Last updated: March 18, 2024

I love that I was able to take nine days and explore New England. While that’s definitely not enough time to thoroughly visit Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, it was enough time to get just a taste to know I want to go back!

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (Cornish, NH)

While in New Hampshire, my main goal was to visit Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park which is one of only two sites in the National Park Service devoted to the visual arts, the other being Weir Farm National Park in Connecticut.

Let me begin by saying that I have never been so impressed with sculptures in my life. This place preserves the home, gardens, and studios of Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907), one of America’s foremost sculptors. This was his summer residence from 1885 to 1897, his permanent home from 1900 until his death in 1907, and the center of the Cornish Art Colony. Original sculptures are on exhibit, along with reproductions of his greatest masterpieces. I was especially impressed with the many outdoor exhibits, as well as the gardens.

There is a sculpture in residence program and I noticed there was someone working in the building while we were there.

While we only spent the day in New Hampshire, I’d love to go back one day and explore it a little more.

Have you ever been to New Hampshire? What is the one thing you recommend must be done when I go back?