Hanover / Dartmouth

Welcome back! I hope you enjoy this latest post on the Hanover / Dartmouth area! Like many of New Hampshire’s towns and cities, it will take more than one visit to do justice to them, but I hope this entices you to check things out for yourself. 

Watch the video collage below and then plan your own trip to the area. 

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Dartmouth College

We watched a student tour video the night before our trip. It helped to get our bearings and preview some of the histories of Dartmouth and Downtown Hanover. It was a big help and we learned lots of interesting information about the area.

The campus was constructed in 1784 with its original mission to provide for the education of the Abenaki Indians. Dartmouth Hall burned to the ground twice. Fortunately, within a 24 hr period, enough money was raised from alumni to rebuild it on both occasions.  I found it to be the prettiest of all the many beautiful buildings surrounding the campus. 

The Baker Library Tower stands out as the centerpiece on campus. Its 200-foot clock tower was constructed to resemble Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 

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Due to COVID, many of the attractions and exhibits were closed, but we enjoyed walking the campus and downtown exploring along the way. 

Shattuck Observatory was on our list and we just happened to wander by it early in our stroll. Observation is available to both students and the public, see the website for more information. 

Nearby was a lifelike bronze statue honoring Robert Frost. It  depicts the poet writing his famous poem “Mending Wall.” While he only attended Dartmouth College for two months, it was long enough to earn him a spot in one of the fraternities and a place amongst its revered historical figures. 

A tower built to memorialize the eighth President of Dartmouth College, Samuel Colcord Bartlett, added a third unexpected treasure. 

The Hood Museum would have been a great place to explore but was unfortunately not open. It boasts over 65,000 works of art from 6 continents, including Native Americans. Hopkins Center for the Arts is shown below in the center of the picture, The Hood Museum is off to the left. 

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Main Street Hanover

Having done a complete loop around the main part of campus, we opted for takeout from “Molly’s” as it was within walking distance of Main Street. Students were out jogging, strolling the streets, and adding to the positive energy in town. 

Takeout from “Molly’s” proved to be a wise choice! It would fuel us for our next adventure at “Mink Brook Nature Preserve, just three minutes from town. 

Mink Brook Nature Preserve

Just three minutes from the college, Mink Brook Nature Preserve provided a well-maintained trail and a convenient opportunity to walk along the brook and socially distance. I launched this blog in January of last year having no idea that COVID was around the corner and would devastate the travel industry. It has limited things somewhat but also has made me appreciate what a gift New Hampshire is with all of its many outdoor activities and sites to “explore!” 

Riley was a tired but happy dog by the end of the day!

I anticipate additional trips to “explore” more of Hanover and Dartmouth College. Subscribe to the site by adding your name to the email list and stay up to date with future adventures! Visit my post on The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fair at Mount Sunapee. It is another NH gem and part of the Dartmouth / Lake Sunapee Region. 

If you have a favorite New Hampshire college campus, feel free to leave a comment below and spark some discussion.