Museums and Galleries
White Mountains region is home to fine art and American history museums
Our picks
Bretton Woods, NH
Mount Washington Cog Railway
Off Route 302, directions to Mount Washington Cog Railway 603-278-5404Travel into history with a winter train excursion and visit to cog railway museum
A trip to the Mount Washington Cog Railway makes for a fun winter excursion. At the Marshfield, NH Base Station, visitors can walk through the free, interactive Cog Railway Museum to learn about the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway (and still second steepest, with an average grade of 25 percent). See why P.T. Barnum called it the “second greatest show on Earth” when he was one of the first to step off the train at the mountain summit in 1869. Book a winter excursion and take a one-hour, reduced-fare round trip up to Waumbek Station, in an alpine meadow, where passengers enjoy jaw-dropping vistas (on clear days you can see into Canada) while sipping hot beverages in warming huts or around a blazing fire pit.
Plymouth, NH
Museum of the White Mountains
34 Highland Street, directions to Museum of the White MountainsThis museum, opened in February 2013 on the campus of Plymouth State University , has collections of art, photos, and objects that memorialize the nature and culture of the White Mountains region.
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and on Tuesdays in the summer.
Gorham, NH
Gorham Historical Society and Rail Museum
25 Railroad Street, directions to Gorham Historical Society and Rail Museum 603-466-5338This museum is set in a rail station built in 1907. Exhibits feature railroad-related documents and artifacts, including a box car, steam locomotive and model railroad.
Hours: Open Memorial Day-Columbus Day, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission: Donations are requested.
Franconia, NH
New England Ski Museum
Exit 34B, I-93/Franconia Notch Parkway, directions to New England Ski Museum 603-823-7177Exhibits feature antique ski equipment and vintage ski films. There is a museum shop. Admission is free. Hours: Call ahead for hours of operation. Information: newenglandskimuseum.org.
Sargent's Purchase, NH
Mount Washington Observatory and Summit
Mount Washington State Park Sherman Adams Visitor Center, 1598 Mt Washington Auto Road, directions to Mount Washington Observatory and Summit 603-466-3347The visitor will find displays about the weather on the mountain and the reasons for the severity of Mount Washington's meteorological conditions. The Weather Discovery Room helps visitors explore the weather phenomena of Mount Washington. There are exhibits on the geological history of the Presidential Range and the effects of continental ice sheets.
The "Extreme Mount Washington" exhibit delivers the science and excitement of a Mount Washington through high-tech, hands-on exhibits. The Extreme Mount Washington exhibit is in the Mount Washington State Park Sherman Adams Visitor Center. The summit is accessible mid-May to mid-October by car, Cog Railway), and hiking trails.
Hours: May to mid-October, daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., weather permitting.
North Conway, NH
Mount Washington Valley Children’s Museum
2936 White Mountain Highway, directions to Mount Washington Valley Children’s Museum 603-356-2992Young visitors to the Mount Washington Valley Children’s Museum may put on a puppet show or get dressed up in costumes in the Drama Center; climb the indoor Tree House or learn from the History Tree; build their own creations in the Lego room or doll house room; play in the Infant Toddler room; explore outer space in the new Glow in the Dark and Outer Space Exhibit. For infant through age 10. Hours: September 1-June 30, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Closed for all major storms. Admission: $5; children under age 1 admitted free.