Sugar Hill

Join me as we explore the charming little town of Sugar Hill, New Hampshire! I stumbled upon this hidden gem during my fall foliage tour of the White Mountains Region in 2022. Since that first visit, I have been eager to return and showcase Sugar Hill’s incredible beauty in a post dedicated to this lovely area.

We timed our visit to be able to explore the Sugar Hill Historical Museum on Friday.  Another unexpected treat, was a gracious tour of Saint Matthew’s Chapel that made our day extra special.

Sugar Hill might be one of New Hampshire’s smallest towns, but don’t let its size fool you—this town has some serious character. Sugar Hill is nestled in the western White Mountains and is the newest town in New Hampshire.

After breaking away from Lisbon in 1962, Sugar Hill became the latest addition to the state’s lineup. Sugar Hill gets its name from the abundance of sugar maples that call this place home. In the 19th century, it was a trendy Victorian resort town that drew in artists and wealthy families from New England cities.

Sugar Hill is also known for its incredible lupine display each spring. And. of course, let’s not forget the jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys!

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Saint Matthew’s Chapel

If you do any research at all on New Hampshire’s White Mountains Region, you will likely come across beautiful pictures of Saint Matthew’s Chapel. I made it one of my must-see stops during my foliage tour a couple of years ago and knew I’d be back.

I was about to send my drone up for some aerial footage when two people arrived with flowers for the weekend service. A woman by the name of Betsy was gracious enough to offer us a tour of the inside and was a wealth of information on the history of the chapel. As beautiful as it is from the outside, you just can’t fully appreciate the amazing stained glass without entering the inside. I hope my pictures do some justice to how beautiful they are.

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Betsy explained that the church had undergone major renovations in 2019 when it was discovered that the foundation was unstable due to poor drainage. The entire Chapel was moved off its foundation to complete the necessary repairs. This video shows some of the incredible work that Arnold M. Graton has done over the years, including work on Saint Matthew’s Chapel.

Construction was finished after about 8 weeks and the Chapel was returned to meet up with the original cornerstone laid in 1893.

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Sugar Hill Historical Museum

Our next treat of the day was a trip to the Sugar Hill Historical Museum. I highly recommend putting this on your list of things to do in Sugar Hill. We put it on our Friday agenda to accommodate the museum’s hours of operation.

The museum sits just across from the old post office, you can’t miss the bright red antique fire truck on the front lawn. Inside the museum buildings, you will find history ranging from 1780 to today.

Richard, a member of the town’s select board, gave us a fun tour of the carriage barn. We learned that the actress, Bette Davis, had an affinity for Sugar Hill and had an estate in the area. A sleigh that once belonged to Bette Davis is on display.

If you have an appreciation for old tools, this display will make your chin drop! Alongside the amazing carriages and logging tools is the original classic Benjamin Morrill tower clock from Sugar Hill Meetinghouse. Richard explained that it had been hit by lightning and the tower speared itself into the ground! The tower and clock were replaced and the original became part of the museum.

Richard also showed us an old sleigh that was used to transport staple goods back from Portsmouth during the winter months. If you love history, set aside some time to visit and let it all soak in.

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Polly’s Pancake Parlor

Due to my inattention to the hours of operation, we missed Polly’s Pancake Parlor by 2 minutes! Knowing that it is iconic to Sugar Hill, I thought I would mention it to anyone who might be interested. It is on our to-do list for a third visit!

They have an online store if you are feeling the need for original NH maple syrup and pancakes!

Sugar Hill Nuggets

America’s First Ski School

This was a fun find during my foliage tour in 2022.

Sugar Hill Meeting House

Meeting Houses are a regular feature as you travel across New Hampshire. It isn’t difficult to imagine a time when they were a bustling center of town business and information.

Lover’s Lane

Lovers Lane provides a nice scenic drive that loops you back around past Polly’s Pancake Parlor and Saint Matthew’s Chapel. I haven’t yet managed a visit in the springtime. Based on the pictures of lupine, Sugar Hill must be a sea of purple this time of year!

Harman’s Cheese and Country Store

If you are looking for a place for gifts and yummy snacks, Harman’s Cheese and Country Store is the place for a u turn! We loaded up on smoked cheese and gifts for family.

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I hope this post inspires you to set out on your own adventure and explore a place you have been wanting to visit. Sugar Hill is a place you won’t forget if you choose to visit here! 

Check out my post on my fall foliage tour of the White Mountains Region for a glimpse of another season in this area. 

As always, feel free to leave a comment or suggestion. 

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Until the next post: “Live Free and Explore!”