Culture, Heritage, and Arts in the Mondadnock New Hampshire Region

Come for the canoeing and stay for the culture! A passion for creative living sets the Monadnock Region apart, and that is why the area’s vibrant arts scene is renowned throughout the country.

Visitors are drawn to this place because they can immerse themselves in the arts, which are regarded as not only valuable but vital here. The Monadnock Region thrives on fine arts, festivals, and other expressions of creativity. Whether you are looking for a singular piece of art to take home, a night of exceptional tunes, or a full festival experience, this is where you will find it.

The Monadnock Region is well-known for its impressive number of artists per capita, from plein air painters to trailblazing sculptors and bookmakers. Creative individuals also come from all over the world to seek inspiration at Peterborough, New Hampshire’s famous MacDowell Art Colony, which has been a haven for artists for more than a century.

For travelers who appreciate the arts, there are dozens of galleries and museums to explore across the region. During certain times each year, you can even get an intimate glimpse of how area artists craft their pieces when they open their studio doors for tours.

You can also embrace the creative energy yourself by trying your hand at glassblowing, attending a writers’ workshop, or taking the stage at an open mic night. There are countless opportunities to connect with other artists and relish new creative experiences.

Enjoy a round of traditional Irish jigs at the local pub or watch a troupe of players interpret Shakespeare’s classic tales with Mount Monadnock as a backdrop. Live performances of all shapes and sizes take place throughout the year, outdoors and under tents in the warmer months and within the cozy confines of historic theaters, inns, and taverns once the first snow flies.

Seasonal events mark the rhythm of the region with magnificent fireworks displays in summer and pumpkin-themed festivities in fall. Time your trip just right, and you can participate in the area’s annual international film festival, hot air balloon festival, or vintage and antiques market days. With so many celebrations of arts and culture, any time of year is the perfect time to visit!

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Name City
Colonial Theatre Coming Soon surrounded by posters of performers
Inspected and Approved

The Colonial Theatre

42.931654 -72.278695 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

95 Main Street, Keene, NH 03431

Inspected and Approved

Toadstool Bookshop – Keene

42.9307669 -72.280883 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

12 Emerald St., Keene, NH 03431

Awarded the 2021 NH Retailer of the Year by the New Hampshire Retailers Association. The Toadstool has been selling books for over 48 years in the Monadnock region. A respected fixture and contributor to the local community, the Toadstool and … Continue reading ...

Beautiful property with gravel sidewalk, green grass, mulched landscaping, trees and view of Mount Monadnock
Inspected and Approved

Cathedral of the Pines

42.77476 -71.988371 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

10 Hale Hill Road, Rindge, NH 03461

Cathedral of the Pines is located at the base of historic Mount Monadnock, the most frequently climbed Mountain in the United States. Situated on a hilltop, with panoramic views, Cathedral of the Pines is a breathtaking war memorial in Rindge … Continue reading ...

Log house structure behind tall wood picket fence
Inspected and Approved

The Fort at No. 4

43.2548339 -72.4334601 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

267 Springfield Road, Charlestown, NH 03603

Travel back in time to Plantation No. 4, once the northwesternmost village within the British colonies.  We are an open air museum, dedicated to preserving the history of the fortified section of the plantation No.4 (later to be known as … Continue reading ...

Front of red brick Monadnock Center
Inspected and Approved

Monadnock Center for History and Culture

42.877050 -71.950974 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

19 Grove Street, Peterborough, NH 03458

The Monadnock Center for History and Culture is a community museum that connects people with the region’s rich history and culture through exhibits, programs, concerts, events and more!...

Front of Terrapin Glassblowing Studio and Gift Gallery Lesson painted blue with sea turtle
Inspected and Approved

Terrapin Glassblowing Studio

42.823418 -71.996582 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

79 Hadley Road, Jaffrey, NH 03452

Terrapin Glassblowing Studio is a mother-daughter owned small business right off Rt. 202 in Jaffrey, NH. Situated in the home of Mt. Monadnock, this is an open doors studio with the mission of making glassblowing available to the local communities … Continue reading ...

Yellow sided 18th century building with people dressed in revolutionary period costumes
Inspected and Approved

Historical Society of Cheshire County

42.92764 -72.276858 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

246 Main Street, Keene, NH 03431

The Historical Society of Cheshire County offers about 150 programs each year to help people find their place in history. The Historical Society’s headquarters on Main Street in Keene has a permanent display of local items of historical interest such … Continue reading ...

Inspected and Approved

Toadstool Bookshop – Peterborough

42.8763463 -71.9513902 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

12 Depot Square, Peterborough, NH 03458

Hancock – Greenfield Covered Bridge

42.9567329 -71.937023 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

290 Forest Rd., Hancock, NH 03449

Hancock – Greenfield (County) Covered Bridge is number 8 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire.   It was built in 1937 and spans the Contoocook River at the town line between Hancock and Greenfield on Forest Road (historically … Continue reading ...

Coombs Covered Bridge

42.8379495 -72.3631433 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

976 Old Westport Rd., Winchester, NH 03470

Coombs Covered Bridge is number 2 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire.   Located in northern Winchester, New Hampshire, it is believed to have been built by Anthony Coombs or Anthony Coombs Jr in 1837.    It is located … Continue reading ...

Ashuelot Covered Bridge

42.7771236 -72.4255364 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

20 Hampshire Ct., Ashuelot, NH 03441

Ashuelot Covered Bridge is number 1 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire.  It was built across the Ashuelot River in the village of Ashuelot in the western part of Winchester in 1864-65.  It connects the village on … Continue reading ...

Franklin Pierce Homestead Historic Site

43.1169409587005 -71.94889594993462 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

301 Second New Hampshire Turnpike, Hillsborough, NH 03244

Tour the homestead of Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States (1853-1857), and see the two-story quintessential, impeccably preserved New Hampshire house where he lived from infancy until he married in 1834. Pierce’s father built the structure in … Continue reading ...

Thompson Covered Bridge

42.871932 -72.3301421 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

96 Main St., Swanzey, NH 03446

Denman Thompson (West Swanzey) Covered Bridge is number 5 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire.  This bridge was built by Zadock Taft in 1832, and brings Main Street in the village of West Swanzey over the Ashuelot … Continue reading ...

Carlton Covered Bridge

42.854920 -72.274369 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

86 Carlton Road, Swanzey, NH 03446

The Carlton (Carleton) Covered Bridge is number 7 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.  It is the only 19th century Queens post truss bridge in … Continue reading ...

Sawyer’s Crossing (Cresson) Covered Bridge

42.8862 -72.2865 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

181 Sawyers Crossing Rd, Swanzey, NH 03446

Sawyer’s Crossing (Cresson) Covered Bridge is number 6 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire. It spans the Ashuelot River in northern Swanzey. This bridge is also called the Cresson Bridge.  It is 117 feet long and 17 … Continue reading ...

Slate Covered Bridge

42.847429 -72.340423 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

Westport Village Road, Swanzey, NH 03446

The Slate Covered Bridge is number 4 on the list of covered bridges in New Hampshire.  It was built in 2001 to replace the 1862 covered bridge that was destroyed by fire in 1993. It is located in the village … Continue reading ...

The Caterpillar Lab

42.9041365 -72.2083261 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

172 Main Street, Marlborough, NH 03455

Not your average butterfly house! The Caterpillar Lab is a not-for-profit devoted to appreciation and conservation of local natural history through educational outreach, research, and art. Adults and children, beginners and experts, photographers and casual observers, all are welcome to … Continue reading ...

Time Travel Tours

42.8773877 -71.9539466 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

70 Main Street, Suite 306, Peterborough, NH 03458

Horatio Colony House Museum & Nature Preserve

42.928879 -72.278037 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

199 Main Street & Daniels Hill Road, Keene, NH 03431

Serving the public for over 40 years, the Horatio Colony House Museum has commanded a prominent place on Main Street when it was first build in 1806 by Able Blake and then served a home of the Joslin/Colony family from … Continue reading ...

Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music

42.9764469 -72.1768821 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

410 Apple Hill Rd., Nelson, NH 03457

Each summer, Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music attracts 300 students and 45 faculty to its 100-acre woodland Nelson NH setting to study and perform chamber music while presenting 10 summer concerts open to the public in its 110-seat concert … Continue reading ...

The Park Theatre

42.814562 -72.023737 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

19 Main Street - P.O. Box 278, Jaffrey, NH 03452

The Park Theatre first opened in Jaffrey in 1922 and was the center of community life as a movie and vaudeville house for 54 years until it closed in 1976. Purchased by The Park Theatre, Inc. in 2006, it will … Continue reading ...

Walpole Mountain View Winery at Barnett Hill Vineyard

43.073211 -72.372157 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

114 Barnett Hill Road, Walpole, NH 03608

Walpole Mountain View Winery at Barnett Hill Vineyard is permanently closed effective April, 2020. Experience FINE ESTATE WINES made exclusively from our vineyard — growing 32 varieties of French-American hybrids and the new Cold-Climate grapes, producing an exquisite selection of … Continue reading ...

Glass Museum / Thing in the Spring

42.876666 -71.951123 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

50 Wilder Street, Peterborough, NH 03458

Part music festival, part film festival, part literary festival and part art show – Peterborough’s The Thing in the Spring has evolved into the only event of its kind. The annual five-day event runs Wednesday through Sunday and features concerts, … Continue reading ...

The Hot Glass Center

42.9075191 -72.2159745 Arts

Category: Arts, Culture & History

99 Main Street, Marlborough, NH 03455

The Hot Glass Art Center has been the community hub for glass enthusiasts and folks looking to try something new. We offer classes and a year round fine craft gallery....