In 1885, renowned Civil War–era sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and his artist wife, Augusta, rented a Federal-style brick house at this site from the sculptor’s friend, Charles Beaman. The couple later purchased it and began summering there to escape NYC’s heat and bustle.
At this summer home, which they called Aspet, Saint-Gaudens completed some of his most influential works, including Abraham Lincoln: The Man, also known as the Standing Lincoln. Their presence in New Hampshire inspired the formation of the Cornish Colony—a thriving community of creatives who energized the bucolic hamlet each summer for the next 2 decades, until Augustus’ death in 1907. As the Colony’s social hub, Aspet attracted some of the era’s most distinguished painters, sculptors, architects, novelists, playwrights, and actors.
Today, the 370-acre estate includes Augustus’ studio as well as lush perennial gardens, walking trails, a birch grove, and views of Vermont’s Mount Ascutney. The site’s 100-plus works of art include everything from finely carved cameos created early in his career to gilded bronze casts of his most celebrated pieces.
A variety of guided tours and immersive programs include “Process of Sculpture,” a short lesson in bronze sculpting with the park’s sculptor-in-residence. In July and August, Sunday afternoon outdoor concerts hark back to the days of the Cornish Colony. Buildings open from late May to late October; grounds open year-round. Adults, $10 (good for 7 consecutive days).