Museums and Galleries in Hanover

For a town of under 12,000 people, Hanover has an outsized cultural life. Dartmouth College anchors it, and the college's art museum, performing arts center and historic library are all within a few minutes' walk of the town green. Most of it is open to the public, and the Hood Museum of Art is free. This guide covers the museums in Hanover NH that are worth planning a visit around, along with a few places from our directory to eat and stay between galleries.

Hanover and Dartmouth at a glance

Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, with a population of 11,870 at the 2020 census. It was chartered in 1761, and Dartmouth College was established in 1769 beside the town common, on a level tract of land about a mile from the river. Dartmouth, founded by Eleazar Wheelock and Samson Occom, is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution.

That history shapes a visit. The Dartmouth Green is the center of town, the college's arts buildings border it, and Main Street's shops and restaurants run south from it. You can park once and spend the day on foot.

The Hood Museum of Art

The Hood Museum of Art is owned and operated by Dartmouth and is the main reason many visitors come to Hanover for art. The college's collecting goes back a long way: the first reference to developing an art collection at Dartmouth dates to 1772, which makes it one of the oldest college collections in the country.

Today the museum cares for about 65,000 objects representing artistic traditions from six continents, including Native American, European and American, Asian, Indigenous Australian, African and Melanesian art. The galleries mix pieces from the permanent collection with traveling and loan exhibitions, so there is often something new on view even for repeat visitors.

A few highlights to look for:

• Assyrian reliefs. Six stone reliefs from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II, dating to about 900 BCE, are among the museum's most important holdings.
• Photojournalism. The Hood holds the complete archive of photojournalist James Nachtwey.
• A modern building. The museum closed in 2016 for a major expansion and renovation designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and reopened on January 26, 2019, with more gallery space and a new atrium.

The Hood describes itself as a teaching museum, and much of its work supports Dartmouth courses across many subjects. For visitors, the practical points are simple: it is free and open to all, and it sits right on the edge of the Green. Check the museum's website for current exhibitions before you go.

The Orozco murals in Baker-Berry Library

One of the most remarkable artworks in New Hampshire is not in a gallery at all. The Epic of American Civilization, a fresco cycle painted by the Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco between 1932 and 1934, covers the walls of a reading room in Dartmouth's Baker-Berry Library, a short walk across the Green from the Hood. The murals were designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013.

The cycle is large and dense, and it rewards slow looking. Plan at least half an hour. Because it is in a working library, be mindful of students studying nearby, and check Dartmouth's visitor information for current public access.

The Hopkins Center for the Arts

Next door to the Hood, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, known on campus as "the Hop," is Dartmouth's multi-venue performing arts center and the college's cultural hub. It opened in 1962 and was designed by architect Wallace Harrison, whose arched, glass-fronted design foreshadowed his later work on the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York.

The building houses Spaulding Auditorium, Faulkner Recital Hall, the Moore Theater, the Warner Bentley Theater and Alumni Hall. These venues host student ensembles such as the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, Glee Club and Dartmouth Dance Ensemble, along with concerts, plays and films by visiting artists. All events are open to the public. The Hop is connected to the Hood, so a gallery visit and an evening performance pair naturally.

Even if you do not catch a show, the building itself is worth a look as an important piece of mid-century campus architecture.

The Nugget Theaters

Hanover's movie house is a small piece of history in its own right. The Nugget Theaters at 57 South Main Street trace their story to September 13, 1916, when the original Nugget Theatre opened with 571 seats. In 1922 its founders donated the business to the town, with the stipulation that net proceeds be used for town improvements, and the Hanover Improvement Society was formed to run it. "Talkies" arrived at the Nugget in 1929.

The Nugget's website has a detailed timeline of its history, from silent films through the arrival of sound and on to today, and it still shows current films. It is one of the few movie houses anywhere with a story tied so directly to its town's civic life, since its proceeds were meant to support local improvements. After a day of museums, a movie on Main Street is a fitting local way to finish.

Where to eat

Main Street has plenty of choices within a few blocks of the Green. For a classic Hanover breakfast or lunch, Lou's Restaurant and Bakery has been serving the town since 1947. It serves breakfast and lunch and runs a bakery counter, which makes it an easy stop before the museum or a place to pick up something sweet for the drive home. Lou's has been part of Main Street for generations of Dartmouth students and Upper Valley residents, and it remains one of the most familiar names in town.

Where to stay

Hanover has a small number of inns and hotels close to the Green, and staying in town lets you walk between the Hood, the Orozco murals, the Hop and the Nugget without moving your car. The broader Upper Valley, including neighboring Lebanon and towns across the Connecticut River, has more options if Hanover is full, which can happen on busy college weekends such as graduation and reunions. Book early for those dates. If you are visiting for an evening performance at the Hop, staying overnight also means you can enjoy the show without a late drive home, and spend the next morning in the galleries when they are quieter.

Planning tips

• Go midweek if you can. Campus is quieter, and parking is easier.
• Check the academic calendar. Hanover's energy and the Hop's schedule both follow the college terms. Summer has a lighter performance calendar but quieter galleries.
• Combine with the outdoors. The Appalachian Trail passes through Hanover, and the Connecticut River is just west of downtown, so a morning walk and an afternoon in the galleries make a balanced day.
• Leave time for the murals. Many visitors see the Hood and miss the Orozco frescoes. Plan for both.

FAQ

Is the Hood Museum of Art free?

Yes. The museum is free and open to all.

Where are the Orozco murals?

In Dartmouth's Baker-Berry Library, a short walk across the Green from the Hood.

Can the public attend shows at the Hopkins Center?

Yes. All Hopkins Center events are open to the public.

How old is the Nugget Theater?

The original Nugget opened on September 13, 1916.

Sources

• Hanover, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, charter, Dartmouth's founding location, Appalachian Trail): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover,_New_Hampshire
• Dartmouth College, Wikipedia (founding, colonial colleges): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmouth_College
• Hood Museum of Art, Wikipedia (collection, renovation, holdings, Orozco fresco): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hood_Museum_of_Art
• Hood Museum of Art, official site: https://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/
• Hopkins Center for the Arts, Wikipedia (architecture, venues, public events): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopkins_Center_for_the_Arts
• Nugget Theaters, History of the Nugget: https://www.nugget-theaters.com/history/
• Lou's Restaurant and Bakery, official site: https://lousrestaurant.com/
• The Epic of American Civilization, Wikipedia (Orozco fresco, landmark status): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epic_of_American_Civilization