Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

New England Road Trip 2024➤

My friend Patty and I hit the road again in October 2024. Our route took us through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and upstate New York. Along the way we hit several National Park Service Units and historic sites. We spent the first afternoon at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

New Hampshire’s only National Park Site➤

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park preserves the home, studios, and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He was one of America’s most important sculptors during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The park is located in Cornish, New Hampshire, where he spent summers and later lived full time.

The site began as a summer retreat in the 1880s. Saint-Gaudens purchased the property and made major improvements. He added studios, gardens, and walking paths. After his death in 1907, his widow Augusta and later their son Homer worked to preserve the estate. In 1965, the Saint-Gaudens Memorial transferred the property to the National Park Service.

Today, the park protects over 30 works of art, original buildings, and historic landscapes. Visitors can explore the galleries, walk the grounds, and view outdoor sculptures. The park also interprets the artist’s role in shaping national identity through public monuments.

Augustus Saint-Gaudens➤

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1848. His family moved to New York City when he was a child. As a teenager, he trained as a cameo cutter and took art classes at night. He later studied sculpture in Paris and Rome.

St-Gaudens returned to the U.S. in the 1870s and quickly gained recognition. He created major public monuments, including the Admiral Farragut statue in New York and the Shaw Memorial in Boston. His work combined classical style with realistic detail. Many saw his sculptures as symbols of American ideals.

In the 1890s, Saint-Gaudens began spending summers in Cornish, New Hampshire. The quiet setting helped him focus on art while managing health problems. He died there in 1907. His legacy lives on through his monuments, coins, and influence on American sculpture.

Patty and I spent a full afternoon exploring the park before heading into Vermont. We attended a ranger talk which focused on four of the famous sculptures. That tour took us across the grounds and into the studios. From there, we perused the galleries and toured the mansion.

New England Posts➤

• Mount Holyoke
• Cornish Windsor Bridge
• Saint-Gaudens
• Saint-Gaudens Mansion
• Saint-Gaudens Sculpture Tour
• Hildene
• Hildene: Gardens
• Hildene: Pullman
• Hildene: Farm
• Saint Kateri National Shrine
• Fort Stanwix
• Watkins Glen State Park

---

Location: 139 St Gaudens Rd, Cornish, New Hampshire
Designation: National Historical Park
Date designated/established: May 30, 1977
Date of my visit: October 3, 2024