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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?
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Explore the Monadnock Region
Covered Bridges
Carleton Bridge #7
The current bridge was built in 1869. According to local tradition, the bridge was built by local barn builders since the truss...
Coombs #2
The bridge was named after its original builder and owner, Anthony Coombs. The Coombs Bridge once played an important role in...
County Bridge #8
In 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
This structure is also known by the name Cresson. A celebration with a big dance on the bridge when it was reconstructed in...
Slate #4
The 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
There 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...
Attractions
MacDowell Colony
The MacDowell Colony is the leading artist colony in the United States, attracting writers, visual artists, filmmakers and even...
Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center
The Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center, housed in a restored Baptist church building in downtown Peterborough, is a...
Pickity Place
This cozy 1786 cottage once inspired a local artist's illustrations in a 1948 version of "Little Red Riding Hood."
Stonewall Farm
Stonewall farm is a working farm and education center dedicated to promoting local agriculture and the stewardship of natural...
The Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies
The Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College will lead in teaching and preserving the moral legacy of the...
Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery
The Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery is the dynamic, vital center for the visual arts in the Monadnock Region, encompassing the best...
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge
1,672 acres of North Pack Monadnock Mountain, northeast of Miller State Park. This mostly timbered area contains a bog, swamp,...
Harris Center for Conservation Education
The Harris Center is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to environmental and outdoor education, land protection, and...
Frye's Measure Mill
Frye's Measure Mill is a place where the smell of freshly planed wood lingers in the air; where antique water-powered machinery...
Friendly Farm
Farm animals and their young to pet and feed in a natural setting. Chicks hatching; baby animal area; picnic area; gift shop.
Franklin Pierce Homestead
This 1804 mansion offers a window to our past, and the world of Franklin Pierce's childhood.
Colony Mill Marketplace
The 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
Cathedral of the Pines is a place of spiritual nourishment for people of all faiths.
Sharon Arts Center
The Sharon Arts Center is a fine arts gallery, store and school of arts and crafts.
State Parks and Beaches
Rhododendron State Park
Rhododendron 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
Pisgah State Park includes over 13,500 acres of rough forested terrain, encompassing a complete watershed north of the Ashuelot...
Monadnock State Park
With its 5,000 acres of protected highlands, 3,165-ft. Mt. Monadnock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1987. There...
Miller State Park
Located 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
Tucked 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
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area spans 13 acres. It offers great opportunities for hiking, as you explore the footpaths along the...
Near the Cathedral of the Pines National Shrine. Located in Annett State Forest.
Historic Markers
Marker Number: 10
Marker Number: 137
Marker Number: 13
Marker Number: 112
Marker Number: 59
Marker Number: 69
Marker Number: 43
Marker Number: 74
Marker Number: 138
Marker Number: 101
Marker Number: 23
Marker Number: 52
Marker Number: 27
Marker Number: 93
Marker Number: 12
Marker Number: 68
Marker Number: 130
Marker Number: 35
Waterfalls
Cascading brooks and dramatic falls abound in western New Hampshire.
Forests
Hiking, fishing, birding, nature walks, picknicking and wildlife watching in this diverse region.
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