Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park is a historic property in the New Hampshire countryside featuring a Federal-style main house, artist studios, and expansive gardens. The buildings and outdoor spaces form a working artist's estate that displays how a sculptor organized his residential and creative environment.

The sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens acquired the property in 1885 and developed it as a center for American sculpture until 1907. The estate became a hub for an artistic movement that shaped American art during this formative period.

The site served as a gathering place for the Cornish Colony, where painters, sculptors, and writers worked alongside each other and shaped each other's creations. Visitors can still sense this artistic community through the studios and gardens that reveal how these creators shared ideas and supported one another.

The grounds are open during daylight hours, though building renovations continue through May 2025 with visitor services temporarily relocated. Sturdy shoes are recommended for walking the paths and exploring the gardens, especially after rain.

The park has operated the oldest continuously active artist residency program within the National Park Service since 1969, where sculptors work in dedicated studios. This program carries forward Saint-Gaudens's original vision of using his property as a workplace for living artists.

Location: Cornish

Inception: May 30, 1977

Operator: U.S. Forest Service

Website: https://nps.gov/saga

GPS coordinates: 43.50083,-72.36806

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40