More than 100 historic homes and studios across the United States preserve, present, and promote the legacies of significant artists to the public. One of the most celebrated and longest in operation is the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (SGNHP), a National Park Service property in bucolic Cornish, New Hampshire, open seasonally from late May through late October. It comprises the home, studios, grounds, and artworks of Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907), a sculptor of French-Irish immigrant roots best known for his monuments to Civil War heroes and his designs for the $10 and $20 gold coins. The park’s remarkable story, beginning in 1965, grows out of its predecessor and ongoing partner, the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, a private, nonprofit organization now celebrating 100 years of advocating for this distinguished American artist.
When Saint-Gaudens died…
