Back In The Day, This Quiet New Hampshire Town Was An Art Colony

The bucolic beauty of the Granite State's landscapes has inspired artists for centuries. Writers, painters, photographers, and many others have visited the state's mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests to seek solace and to spark creativity. Around the turn of the 20th century, one small town was home to one of the most popular art colonies in New Hampshire.

Cornish, New Hampshire was home to the Cornish Art Colony from about 1885 through the end of World War I.

During the summer months, the scenery of the area attracted artists, writers, and politicians.

Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the primary figure of the colony and he was influential in attracting other artists.

Following Saint-Gaudens' death in 1907, the colony dissolved. His home, studio, and gardens have been preserved for the public as the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site.

A member of the famous Barrymore family of actors, Ethel Barrymore's career spanned six decades on stage, screen, and radio. She was one of several actors associated with the colony.

American painter and illustrator Maxfield Parrish, known for his neo-classical imagery, was associated with the colony.

Performing arts were also a discipline within the colony. American dancer Isadora Duncan went on to great acclaim throughout Europe and the U.S.

President Woodrow Wilson even used the Harlakenden residence in Cornish as his Summer White House from 1913 to 1915. Unfortunately, the property was destroyed by a fire in 1923.

American artist and book illustrator Florence Scovel Shinn spent her summers in the region at a house designed by her husband.

Robert William Vonnoh, an American Impressionist painter, was no doubt inspired by the natural beauty of the Connecticut River Valley.

To explore more about why artists flocked to Cornish, visit the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park. The park buildings are only open during summer but the grounds and trails are accessible year-round.

There is lots more to see in Cornish, including one of the longest covered bridges in the United States.