Home » NewHampshire.com » Travel & Tourism » Monadnock
Read More
The Monadnock Region - Currier & Ives Country
Explore the Monadnock region of New Hampshire which encompasses the southwestern part of the state. The region is also known as Currier and Ives country, for its rolling hills and picturesque town squares.
From the slope of the hills, to the jagged mountain peak, to the fertile farmland upon which age-old barns stand, to the "Currier and Ives" character of small towns and small town folk, the Southwestern corner of New Hampshire resembles a one-hundred-year-old postcard.
Mount Monadnock in the town of Jaffrey is easily the biggest attraction to this area. One of the world's most climbed mountains, the summit offers a spectacular view of six other states on a clear day. The mountain has 40 miles of trails and an elevation of 3,165 feet. Nearby Pack Monadnock in Temple is lesser known, but offers a ten-mile hike to the top and a 2,000 foot climb in elevation, including a steep climb on the last mile. On a clear day you can see the Boston skyline from the summit.
Rock walls surround properties. Gazebos, churches with white steeples, centuries' old town halls and meeting houses line main streets. Antique shops are sprinkled about. The mill villages of Harrisville, Temple, Stoddard, Wilton and Hillsborough can be found here, almost untouched by the years. The town of Swanzey is home to four of the most picturesque covered bridges in the state. Though you won't find many hotels in the area, you will find more of a country inn atmosphere around here.
And the area has been touched by the arts as well. Here is where you'll find the MacDowell Colony, the nation's oldest artist community, in the town of Peterborough. The colony has nurtured the muse of Mark Twain, Willa Cather and Louisa May Alcott, and the classic Thornton Wilder play "Our Town." Also in Peterborough, you'll discover cultures from around the world at the Mariposa Museum. A short drive away, Keene's Colonial Theatre is a venue for a variety of performances throughout the year, from classical music and film to theatre and comedy.
The Yankee Magazine and the Old Farmer's Almanac are both published in Dublin. The town of Mason is home to Pickity Place, the 1786 cottage that inspired the illustrations in "Little Red Riding Hood," Parker's Maple Barn, known for their delicious maple syrup made the old-fashioned way, and Uncle Sam's boyhood home.
Where will these meandering roads lead you?
Top 10
Explore the top 10 things to do in the Monadnock region!News & Happenings
Waterfalls
Monadnock Region
READER COMMENTS: 0Cascading brooks and dramatic falls abound in western New Hampshire.
Attractions by Region
Browse By Region: Click on a region of interest on the map or from the dropdown menu below.
Beaches
Rhododendron State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Rhododendron State Park is named after the 16-acre grove of Rhododendron Maximum, which is the focal point of the park. A 0.6...
Pisgah State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Pisgah State Park includes over 13,500 acres of rough forested terrain, encompassing a complete watershed north of the Ashuelot...
Monadnock State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0With its 5,000 acres of protected highlands, 3,165-ft. Mt. Monadnock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1987. There...
Miller State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Located on the 2,290-foot summit and flank of Pack Monadnock in Peterborough, Miller is the oldest state park in New Hampshire. A...
Greenfield State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Tucked away in this 400-acre park in the southwest corner of the Granite State are ponds, bogs and a forest that extends to the...
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area
READER COMMENTS: 0Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area spans 13 acres. It offers great opportunities for hiking, as you explore the footpaths along the...
Annett Wayside Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Near the Cathedral of the Pines National Shrine. Located in Annett State Forest.
Covered Bridges
Carleton Bridge #7
READER COMMENTS: 0The current bridge was built in 1869. According to local tradition, the bridge was built by local barn builders since the truss...
Coombs #2
READER COMMENTS: 0The bridge was named after its original builder and owner, Anthony Coombs. The Coombs Bridge once played an important role in...
County Bridge #8
READER COMMENTS: 0In 1852, a Long truss covered bridge was built on this site by Charles Gray of Hancock. In March 1936, a disastrous flood...
Sawyer's Crossing Bridge #6
READER COMMENTS: 0This structure is also known by the name Cresson. A celebration with a big dance on the bridge when it was reconstructed in...
Slate #4
READER COMMENTS: 0The bridge name originates from the Slate family who lived on a farm along the river north of the bridge. It is the second bridge...
West Swanzey Bridge #5
READER COMMENTS: 0There is a sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. The bridge was posted for six tons until the fall of 1990 at which time it...
Historic Markers
Hampshire Pottery
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 86
First Textile Mills
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 10
First Methodist Meeting Place in NH
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 60
First Connecticut River Bridge
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 61
Factory Village
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 153
NH Historical Markers - Denman Thompson
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 22
NH Historical Markers - Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 95
NH Historical Markers - Brigadier General James Reed
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 99
NH Historical Markers - Barrett House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 137
NH Historical Markers - Hannah Davis - Amos Fortune
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 13
NH Historical Markers - Hinsdale's Auto Pioneer
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 112
NH Historical Markers - Hosea Ballou
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 59
NH Historical Markers - Keene Glass Industries
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 69
NH Historical Markers - Levi Woodbury
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 43
NH Historical Markers - Park Hill Meeting House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 74
NH Historical Markers - Second Rindge Meeting House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 138
NH Historical Markers - Site of Wilder's Chair Factory
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 101
NH Historical Markers - Soapstone
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 23
NH Historical Markers - Stoddard Glass
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 52
NH Historical Markers - Stone Arch Bridge
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 27
NH Historical Markers - Surry Mountain Gold Mine and Lily Pond
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 93
NH Historical Markers - Temple Glass Factory
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 12
NH Historical Markers - Toll House and Toll Gate
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 68
NH Historical Markers - Town Meeting House in Greenfield
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 130
NH Historical Markers - Uncle Sam's House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 35
Attractions
MacDowell Colony
READER COMMENTS: 0The MacDowell Colony is the leading artist colony in the United States, attracting writers, visual artists, filmmakers and even...
Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center
READER COMMENTS: 0The Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center, housed in a restored Baptist church building in downtown Peterborough, is a...
Parker's Maple Barn
READER COMMENTS: 0Parker's Maple Barn has been a family establishment since the late 1960's.
Pickity Place
READER COMMENTS: 0This cozy 1786 cottage once inspired a local artist's illustrations in a 1948 version of "Little Red Riding Hood."
Stonewall Farm
READER COMMENTS: 0Stonewall farm is a working farm and education center dedicated to promoting local agriculture and the stewardship of natural...
The Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies
READER COMMENTS: 0The Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College will lead in teaching and preserving the moral legacy of the...
Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery
READER COMMENTS: 0The Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery is the dynamic, vital center for the visual arts in the Monadnock Region, encompassing the best...
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge
READER COMMENTS: 01,672 acres of North Pack Monadnock Mountain, northeast of Miller State Park. This mostly timbered area contains a bog, swamp,...
Harris Center for Conservation Education
READER COMMENTS: 0The Harris Center is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to environmental and outdoor education, land protection, and...
Frye's Measure Mill
READER COMMENTS: 0Frye's Measure Mill is a place where the smell of freshly planed wood lingers in the air; where antique water-powered machinery...
Friendly Farm
READER COMMENTS: 0Farm animals and their young to pet and feed in a natural setting. Chicks hatching; baby animal area; picnic area; gift shop.
Franklin Pierce Homestead
READER COMMENTS: 0This 1804 mansion offers a window to our past, and the world of Franklin Pierce's childhood.
Colony Mill Marketplace
READER COMMENTS: 0The Colony Mill is proud to be a part of the history of this country. Originally constructed in 1838 by two local families, the...
Cathedral of the Pines
READER COMMENTS: 0Cathedral of the Pines is a place of spiritual nourishment for people of all faiths.
Horatio Colony Museum
READER COMMENTS: 0Home of Horatio Colony, descendent of one of Keene's historic families.
Sharon Arts Center
READER COMMENTS: 0The Sharon Arts Center is a fine arts gallery, store and school of arts and crafts.
Forests
Monadnock Region
READER COMMENTS: 0Hiking, fishing, birding, nature walks, picknicking and wildlife watching in this diverse region.
State Parks
Rhododendron State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Rhododendron State Park is named after the 16-acre grove of Rhododendron Maximum, which is the focal point of the park. A 0.6...
Pisgah State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Pisgah State Park includes over 13,500 acres of rough forested terrain, encompassing a complete watershed north of the Ashuelot...
Monadnock State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0With its 5,000 acres of protected highlands, 3,165-ft. Mt. Monadnock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1987. There...
Miller State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Located on the 2,290-foot summit and flank of Pack Monadnock in Peterborough, Miller is the oldest state park in New Hampshire. A...
Greenfield State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Tucked away in this 400-acre park in the southwest corner of the Granite State are ponds, bogs and a forest that extends to the...
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area
READER COMMENTS: 0Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area spans 13 acres. It offers great opportunities for hiking, as you explore the footpaths along the...
Annett Wayside Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Near the Cathedral of the Pines National Shrine. Located in Annett State Forest.
-
NHIAA Div. I Track Championships, May 24
High School Sports
-
Hesser College Commencement, May 20
Education
-
FPU wins NCAA Div. II Baseball Regional
College Sports
Monadnock
- Flags should be half-staff Monday, Thursday for holiday - 0
- Two seriously injured in head-on crash in Bedford - 0
- Concert to aid Nashua man with rare disease - 0
- Stacey Cole's Nature Talks: Nongame, Endangered Wildlife Program turns 25 - 0
- North Country open for business - 0
- To get away, they come to NH - 0
- Win tickets to see American Idol Live! - 0
- Bach's Lunch Series Concludes in June with Music of Night and Nature - 0
- Open House at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center on June 1 - 0
