Do you want to explore all the National Park Service (NPS) offerings in New Hampshire? Although we have only two national parks, we have many more NPS designated sites. From National Historic Landmarks to Wild and Scenic Rivers. From Shaker communities to National Natural Landmarks. Join us exploring the best NPS sites in the granite state!
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Table of contents
The National Park Service
Since 1916, the National Park Service (NPS) has been caring for our national parks. In their own words:
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
National Park Service: Our Mission
Sounds good, doesn’t it? When I just moved to America, I always imagined National Parks would be big and imposing and mostly imagined The Everglades, Glacier Bay and Yosemite. But it turns out there are many more NPS sites, not only the big ones. And even better, there are quite a few in New Hampshire!
Types of NPS Sites in New Hampshire?
If you only count the “official” National Parks, New Hampshire has only two. But if you count other NPS units, the picture suddenly gets brighter. New Hampshire is part of a larger National Heritage Area. We have a National forest, wild and scenic rivers, a bunch of National Trails, National Natural Landmarks, and more than twenty National Historic Landmarks. Not bad for such a small state!
New Hampshire National Parks
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
Most people know about the American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, but did you know he spent quite a lot of time in Cornish New Hampshire?
In 1885, Saint-Gaudens purchased the property and established it as a summer residence. Naming it “Aspet” (the town of his father’s birth in France), he established a studio, and worked here. First just in the summer, and later year-round until his death in 1907. He was connected to the Cornish Art Colony.
At Saint-Gaudens National Park, you can visit his beautiful home, studios and gardens, along with over 100 of his artworks in the galleries.
Standing Lincoln
Augustus Saint-Gaudens spent nearly three years of his life to the Standing Lincoln statue. In 1887, it was dedicated at Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois. Later re-castings of the statue were given as diplomatic gifts from the United States to the United Kingdom (now in Parliament Square, London), and to Mexico (Parque Lincoln in Mexico City).
In 2016, this cast of the Standing Lincoln was added to the park.
Diana of the Tower
When one of Saint-Gaudens’ friends in New York City wanted a weather van for the tower of Madison Square Garden, he agreed to create it at no charge.
After the first version proved to be too heavy to work as a weather vane, Saint-Gaudens scaled it down and Diana of the Tower graced Madison Square Garden from 1893 to 1925.
The Appalachian Trail
Who hasn’t heard of the famous Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 miles long hiking trail in the Eastern United States between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Although New Hampshire has only 161 miles of the A.T., it offers more miles above tree line than any other Trail state. The New Hampshire AT is nearly all within the White Mountain National Forest. The Hanover NH part is easy, where the trail goes right through downtown and past grocery and other stores.
In contrast, the trail follows the Presidential Range of the White Mountains completely above tree line for about 12 miles. The AT passes over the summits of 16 of the 48 four-thousand footers of New Hampshire.
Other National Park Units in NH
White Mountain National Forest
Technically the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire is not managed by the National Park Service. All our national forests are managed by the US Forest service, which means they can be managed and developed while National Parks are primarily for preservation. Still both are public national resources, so I decided to include the White Mountains National Forest here.
If you are looking for the best fall foliage, the White Mountains are one of the top places to go. Established in 1918, most of this National Forest is in New Hampshire, but a small part spills over to Maine. This is the most eastern national forest in the United States.
The White Mountain NF is an exquisite place for bird and nature watching. Just to mention a few of the inhabitants: bald eagles, cardinals, peregrine falcons, moose, black bears and red foxes. Spending a day in the White Mountains is never boring.
Offering a wide variety of hiking trails (1,200 miles in total) and lots of ski areas and campgrounds, this National Forest is one of the most visited outdoor recreation sites east of the Mississippi.
National Historic Landmark
What is a National Historic Landmark?
As the name indicates, National Historic Landmarks are properties that illustrate the heritage of the United States. Today, there are more than 2,600 in the US, with 23 of these NPS sites in the state of New Hampshire. Get a free (bucket) list of all the National Historic Landmarks in NH.
Let’s look deeper in some of these NPS sites:
The Epic of American Civilization Murals, Baker Library, Dartmouth College
In 2013, the NPS added this epic series of murals in New Hampshire to their list of National Historic Landmarks. Eighty years before, Mexican artist Josรฉ Clemente Orozco painted these amazing murals. The murals are composed of 24 individual panels, depicting the impact of indigenous and European peoples on North America. Orozco was a key figure in bringing Mexican culture and art to the US.
They are located in the Baker Library at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Worth a visit for sure! During this pandemic, be sure to check whether they are publicly accessible when you want to visit.
Mount Washington Hotel
When I started researching this article, I thought the Mount Washington Hotel was famous mostly because of the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. Establishing the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, delegates from 44 nations started repairing the damages from World War II.
But there are so many more interesting tidbits about this historic hotel. 250 Italian craftsmen worked from 1900 to 1902 to construct this grand building. Unusual at that time, each room had their very own bath room.
As one of the most luxurious hotels back then, they received wealthy guests from the North East. Since the owner, Joseph Stickney, wanted their guest to have every creature comfort, he had electricity installed in the hotel. During the opening ceremony Thomas Edison himself turned on the lights for the first time.
Some day I hope to stay at the Mount Washington hotel, but for now we just had an excellent lunch there during one of our local New Hampshire vacations.
More National Historic Landmark NPS Sites in New Hampshire
In addition to these, there are more than 20 other NHLs in New Hampshire. All National Historic Landmarks in NH.
America the beautiful Pass
Of course we all like to save money, so if you plan to visit more than a few National Parks in NH or anywhere, consider getting an “America the Beautiful Pass”.
This pass is free for the following categories:
- Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force;
- Reserve and National Guard members;
- US military veterans;
- Gold Star Family members;
- US 4th graders, including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age
- US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.
If you are a senior ( 62 years or older ), you can get a year pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80
Everyone else? They can buy a yearly pass for $ 80 so you can decide on whether it’s worth it depending on your travel plans for the year.
Conclusion National Park Service sites in New Hampshire
As you can see, there are many NPS sites in NH to enjoy. Have you visited any of them? What was your favorite? Please let us know in the comments, we are always looking for new historic and natural sites to visit!
When you are in New England anyway, consider visiting
- The New Hampshire State House. Why? Discover Ten Fun Facts about the NH State House. It even includes ancient fossils (hint: I’m not talking about the legislators );
- The Pierce Manse. Why? Because he was the only POTUS from New Hampshire. Who wouldn’t want to see how Franklin Pierce, one of the worst presidents in USA history lived?
- Treetop walk! Why? Because where else can you pretend to be a squirrel or a spider?
- Have a beer! Why? Because the Abandoned Building Brewery is a hidden gem.
- Visit our neighbor Maine. Why? Because Kennebunkport is fun, even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.
Alice Morse Earle
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Comments
4 responses to “National Parks and More in New Hampshire”
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Really helpful post for anyone visiting New Hampshire. I’d love to visit a National Park.
I hope you get to visit a National Park some day. They are always super interesting and it helps to imagine how people in the past lived or to enjoy the natural beauty of our country.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!