Cornish
Site Superintendent Rick Kendall said the change would not alter the use of the 190-acre property, but would reflect that it also helps tell the story of the Cornish Colony.
“It simply changes the park name to more closely match other parks of similar size and complexities of stories,” Kendall said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “It recognizes that there is more than one story told at Saint-Gaudens.”
When the site first opened in the early 1960s, Kendall said, it was focused solely on sculptor and artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who lived and worked in Cornish from 1885 until his death in 1907.
“The story here has expanded quite a bit to include stories of the Cornish Art Colony and various artists who have been here,” said Kendall, who has served as superintendent since 2010.
The wording of the bill to redesignate the park as the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park calls Saint-Gaudens one of the country’s “greatest sculptors” whose works include monuments to Civil War heroes and the 1907 United States gold coinage, considered to be “the most beautiful coins ever minted.”
The bill goes on to say that Saint-Gaudens’ presence led to the formation of the Cornish Art Colony, attracting painters, sculptors, writers, poets and practitioners of everything from dance, drama and musical compositions to architecture and politics.
The legislation also notes that the Saint-Gaudens site was one of the earliest art colonies and one of the “richest and most diverse concentrations of practicing artists in the United States.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Shaheen explained why she thinks the name change is important.
“By changing the designation for Saint-Gaudens to become a ‘National Historical Park,’ our legislation will help recognize the broader purpose that this property serves in bringing together artists and performing arts, historic buildings, American art, landscapes and trails,” Shaheen said. “This park is about much more than history; it is also about celebrating the creation and exhibiting of art in our own time.”
Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., a co-sponsor of the bill, said Saint-Gaudens is a place where visitors can admire the sculptor’s work and experience the state’s natural resources.
“Saint-Gaudens plays an integral role in our thriving travel and tourism industry, and changing the designation of the site to ‘Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park’ will help attract even more visitors, strengthening the economy of the local community and our state,” Hassan said in her own statement.
U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., filed similar legislation in the House on Tuesday.
“Saint-Gaudens is an important part of the economy and identity of Cornish and the Upper Valley,” Kuster said in a statement. “Designating this site as a National Historical Park will reflect the cultural significance of Saint-Gaudens and help encourage visitors from around the country and the world to visit New Hampshire and this spectacular area.”
Kendall said a similar bill introduced last year by Shaheen and co-sponsored by then-Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R- N.H., got bogged down after the U.S. Department of the Interior objected to the name being changed to Saint-Gaudens National Park for the Arts. The bill had to be reintroduced during this session.
“Interior testified it did not want to see a whole new designation (with the word “art”) and it was more appropriate to call it a national park,” Kendall said.
There was not enough time in last year’s Congressional session to make the wording change and get the bill passed, Kendall said, adding the bill does not face opposition.
He said historical sites typically are smaller than parks and focus on one story, such as the homestead of a famous person.
The Saint-Gaudens site, located off Route 12A, promotes the arts through concerts, art exhibitions and artist-in-residence programs, among other activities.
The site since 2010 also has included Blow Me Down Farm, a scenic site across Route 12A near the Connecticut River.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
