Peterborough
Monadnock Region Town On The Contoocook River, Widely Regarded As A Model For Grover'S Corners In Thornton Wilder'S Our Town, Written In Part At The MacDowell Artists' Colony Here; Home Of The Peterborough Town Library, Often Called The First Free Public Library Supported By Taxation (1833); Miller State Park On Pack Monadnock, Described As New Hampshire'S Oldest State Park, Lies Just East. · Peterborough, New Hampshire
A small brick-and-clapboard town in the Monadnock Region of southern New Hampshire, where the Contoocook River and Nubanusit Brook meet in the middle of downtown. Thornton Wilder worked on Our Town at the MacDowell artists' colony on the edge of town in the 1930s, and Peterborough is widely regarded as a model for his Grover's Corners (confirm the extent). The town library, founded in 1833, is often called the first free public library in the world supported by taxation. MacDowell itself, founded in 1907, remains a working residency for artists and is largely closed to visitors except on its annual Medal Day. In summer the Peterborough Players stage plays in a converted barn outside town. Just east, Miller State Park, described as New Hampshire's oldest state park, has an auto road to the summit of Pack Monadnock, with a fire tower, wide views to the big mountain in the west and, each autumn, a hawk watch that counts migrating raptors. Downtown has an independent bookshop, cafes, galleries and a history center on Grove Street.
Grove Street, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 03458, United States
The town is open all year. Shops and galleries keep daytime hours, many closed or short on Sunday and Monday; cafes open early and restaurants serve lunch and dinner, with some closed early in the week. The Town Library opens most days. Miller State Park's auto road is open in the warm months only, roughly spring to late autumn, and may open only on weekends at the start and end of the season; the summit can be reached on foot all year (confirm dates). The autumn hawk watch runs roughly September to October. The Peterborough Players perform in summer, roughly June to August. MacDowell opens to the public only on Medal Day, usually in August (confirm).