Peterborough, New Hampshire, is the cultural capital of the Monadnock Region and one of the most artistically distinguished small towns in all of New England — a Hillsborough County community of approximately 6,500 residents at the confluence of the Contoocook River and the North Branch whose Main Street, Grove Street, and Depot Street constitute one of the finest intact small-town commercial and cultural landscapes in New Hampshire, a place of independent bookshops, working artists, a legendary arts colony, and civic institutions whose collective weight gives the town an intellectual vitality unusual in a community of its size. Incorporated in 1760, Peterborough became the model for Thornton Wilder’s fictional Grover’s Corners in Our Town — a distinction earned not by quaintness but by the genuine depth of community life that Wilder observed during his time in the region — and its identity as an arts community was permanently shaped by the MacDowell Colony, founded in 1907 by composer Edward MacDowell and his wife Marian as the first artist residency program in the United States, whose graves on High Street are marked by a New Hampshire historical highway marker describing how MacDowell often paused at the boulder there to watch the sun set behind Mount Monadnock. The Monadnock Center for History and Culture at 19 Grove Street is Peterborough’s finest cultural institution — open Wednesday through Saturday with living history days including Phoenix Mill textile events described as making visitors unexpectedly fascinated by the history of New England mill production, concerts in Bass Hall with performers including The Mammals, lectures, art programs, a spirit of innovation and cooperation that members describe as rare and delightful, and a responsiveness to visitor suggestions that makes it feel genuinely community-owned. The Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center at 26 Main Street adds a completely different but equally essential cultural dimension — a hidden gem open Wednesday through Sunday with musical instruments from around the world available for children to play, regularly changing exhibits alongside standing favorites, Tibetan monk events, adult programming, and a membership that provides free admission to dozens of other museums across the country.
Miller State Park on Miller State Park Road is Peterborough’s most celebrated outdoor destination and the oldest state park in New Hampshire — open seasonally with a $4 parking fee and the option to either drive 1.3 miles to the summit of Pack Monadnock on a paved road or hike up via the yellow trail (moderate with steep sides and fast elevation gain) or the blue trail (easier going), arriving at a summit fire tower from which clear days offer views of Mount Washington, the Boston skyline, and the Vermont hills, with a small gift shop selling coffee and hot chocolate, restrooms, and a dog-friendly policy with staff who greet every visitor with a smile and give dogs treats at arrival. Shieling Forest State Park at 395 Old Street Road provides a quieter and more intimate trail experience — a small forested area with steep and slippery trails along a brook, hidden holes and caves for wildlife habitat, a large open field at the parking lot, big boulders, lovely little gardens, great spots for a picnic, and a modern Forestry Learning Center available for non-profit groups and community organizations. The Old Railroad Trail along the Contoocook River offers Peterborough’s finest flat walking and cycling experience — a beautifully maintained trail that is paved from its southern access point, runs alongside the river through gorgeous scenery, and is described by every visitor as a wonderful place to walk, see nature, and ride bicycles — a peaceful complement to the more demanding terrain of Pack Monadnock and the surrounding hill country.
Peterborough’s dining scene is the finest in the Monadnock Region by a substantial margin, with a downtown concentration of serious independent restaurants that has made the town a deliberate dining destination for visitors from across southern New Hampshire. Pearl Restaurant and Oyster Bar at 1 Jaffrey Road is Peterborough’s most acclaimed fine dining destination — open Tuesday through Saturday evenings with a variety of oysters described as so fresh and delicious, duck lettuce wraps described as outstanding, crusted tuna over rice described as incredible, excellent cocktails, a wonderful outdoor space for summer dining, exceptional service, and a consistent excellence across every visit that makes regulars call it probably the best restaurant in the area and visitors describe it as a total experience of great atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food worth every cent. Waterhouse Restaurant at 18 Depot St is Peterborough’s most atmospheric farm-to-table experience — open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for brunch, with an unexpected elegance and outdoor patio seating along the water, lobster wontons described as the star of the meal, lobster ragoons described as crispy and hot and tasty, Wagyu flatbread, eggplant roulade, crème brûlée, espresso martini with a scoop of caramel ice cream, and an 8-ounce tenderloin with mashed potato described as perfectly cooked and delicious — a best monthly date night spot for couples who describe the freshness of farm-to-table ingredients as creating an entirely new experience for each dish. Coopershill at 6 School Street rounds out Peterborough’s dining picture as the town’s most beloved all-day Irish pub and restaurant — open seven days a week from 11:30 AM in a building whose front was once a theatre, with house-corned beef Reuben using coleslaw instead of sauerkraut described as a revelation that works perfectly, Guinness beef stew, best burger one reviewer has ever eaten, sweet potato tots described as crunchy and absolutely wonderful, cottage pie, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, an incredible bourbon and whisky flight menu, and the kind of warm welcoming atmosphere that makes eight-year-old kids declare the chicken strips the best they have ever had.
