Historical Sites
and Stories

History is a visible part of the landscape here—from our historical town centers, old mill buildings, barns, covered bridges and the roads that connect them. This itinerary takes you from early settlement through the places and stories that continue to shape our communities.

Morning:

Step Into Frontier Life at the Fort at No. 4

Begin your day in Charlestown at the Fort at No. 4, a vivid re-creation of 18th-century life. Passing through the timber gates feels like crossing a threshold in time: woodsmoke rises from the forge, a blacksmith’s hammer rings out, and interpreters share the daily rhythms of early settlers. Walk through furnished rooms, watch demonstrations, chat with volunteers, and experience a tangible sense of frontier resilience.

Midday:

Follow the Creative Legacy of the Cornish Colony

Head north to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, where the Cornish Colony, a community of artists, writers, and thinkers, flourished at the turn of the 20th century. Explore Saint-Gaudens’ home, studios, and gardens, where world-renowned sculptures took shape. A short drive away, the Maxfield Parrish stage set in Plainfield Town Hall glows with his signature blues and golden light. Together, these stops highlight a cultural movement rooted in this valley’s quiet beauty.

Afternoon:

Reflect on Local Histories

Spend the afternoon exploring historical town centers or at a historical society or museum, each offering a distinct slice of community life. In Sunapee, exhibits trace the rise of early tourism and lakefront culture. Newport’s museum reflects mill-town industry and bold local characters. In Claremont, the History Museum and the changing exhibits at the Visitor Center reveal layers of a mill town continually reinventing itself. In Washington, preserved 19th-century buildings in the town center offer a look at village life. Displays and exhibits inside show what life has been like for people living in Washington throughout its history.

Evening:

Explore Covered Bridges and Reimagined Mills

Close your day by exploring several of the region’s covered bridges and historical mills. Ten covered bridges span tributaries throughout the county, their timber frames softened by years of weather. Along the riverfront in Claremont in its historic district, the original group of textile mills that once produced coveted damask quilts now house the Common Man Inn and Restaurant as well as the Monadnock Mills apartment homes. Visitors can wander across the pedestrian Santagate Bridge to see the Sugar River’s falls and enjoy a drink and or dinner at the Common Man afterward.

Inspiration