There is only one National Park Service Site in New Hampshire: Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. This national park is a beautiful part of the natural and unique cultural history of New Hampshire and is an important part of planning any trip to this state. It’s also easy to visit this national park as a part of an east coast road trip of the entire United States.
NPS in New Hampshire
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
As the only unit of National Park Service Sites in New Hampshire, the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site is a 370-acre property in Cornish, New Hampshire. Out of the 370 acres of land area, 175 acres of this is federally owned land. The historic site encompasses and preserves the home, gardens, and studios of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He is the foremost sculptor in America. The property that is preserved within this national historic site was his home during the summer in the late 19th century. It also served as his home until his death in 1907.
The main house was built in 1817 and it comes with its own garden and studio where he spent his time producing some of his best works. Today, the site also serves as the center for the Cornish Art Colony. The park that surrounds the main house offers two hiking trails—for those who want to explore the natural areas around the home. There is also an on-site exhibit wherein Saint-Gaudens’ original sculptures are on display. There are also reproductions of his masterpieces on display.
You are able to visit this New Hampshire national historic park throughout the year, although you’ll have the best experience from late May through October, when all of the facilities are open. In the winter, the Visitor’s Center is open for just a few hours each day—still long enough for visitors to enjoy the 18 minute introductory film to the sculptor’s life if you’re in the area and would like to visit.
View all the National Park Service Sites in neighboring states: National Parks in Maine, National Parks in Massachusetts, National Parks in Vermont
Book Your Trip
Book Your Accommodation
Booking.com is hands-down the best way to book accommodation—it offers the lowest rates, and the massive community of user reviews helps you decide on the exact right place to stay, from high end hotels to budget hostels.
Rent a Car
The U.S. is a big place and renting a car is the best way to explore and enjoy off-the-beaten path recommendations. I’ve used RentalCars.com for more than a decade to find the best rental car rates—it’s an aggregator that scours the web for the most competitive prices.
Find Interesting Things to Do
Viator, a TripAdvisor property, offers tours all over the world. I also love GetYourGuide, a scrappy booking engine with great prices and a wide selection of tours on every corner of the earth. If you’re keen to take a multi-day tour, I’ve been on more than a dozen G Adventures tours and highly recommend the company.
Protect Yourself With Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is the single best way to protect yourself and your trip from unforeseen complications, illness, theft, and more. Whether you’re planning a domestic road trip or an international adventure, book travel insurance with a trusted company. International Medical Group (IMG) offers great prices for domestic travel, particularly for families and seniors. World Nomads is a great option for international travelers on adventurous trips to the U.S. The EE team has used both for more than a decade and highly recommends choosing the one that best fits your next trip.