Hanover Town Guide: Around Dartmouth Green

Hanover is one of the easiest towns in New Hampshire to explore on foot. Almost everything a visitor needs sits within a few blocks of Dartmouth Green, the open lawn at the center of the college campus. This Hanover town guide is organized around the Green: what to see on and around it, then where to stay, eat and browse within an easy walk.

If you are looking for a deeper dive on dining or museums, see our separate guides to Hanover's restaurants and to its museums and galleries. This guide is the short version for a first visit or a weekend.

Hanover at a glance

• Where: On the Connecticut River in Grafton County, bordering Norwich, Vermont, across the river.
• Population: 11,870 at the 2020 census, with about 9,078 in the main village.
• Roads: The village sits at the junction of NH routes 10, 10A and 120.
• Known for: Dartmouth College, a walkable downtown and the Appalachian Trail, which crosses the town.
• Good to know: The town includes the smaller villages of Etna and Hanover Center.

A little history

Hanover was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth on July 4, 1761, originally spelled "Hannover." Its first European settlers arrived in 1765 and 1766, mostly from Connecticut. Dartmouth College was established in 1769 beside the town common on a level tract called "the Plain," about a mile from the Connecticut River and roughly 150 feet above it. The town and the college have grown up together ever since.

Walking Dartmouth Green

The Green is the natural starting point. In the 19th century it served as the college's original sports field, where students played cricket and an early form of football. Today it is an open lawn crossed by footpaths, with some of the campus's best-known buildings around its edges.

Dartmouth Hall. On the east side of the Green, Dartmouth Hall stands on a site the college has built on since 1784. The original wooden hall was the college's only building when it was finished in 1791. After a fire destroyed almost all of it in 1904, the current brick building went up from 1904 to 1906, reusing much of the granite foundation. It was extensively renovated in 2021 and 2022.

Baker Memorial Library. On the north side of the Green, Baker's tower, modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia, rises 200 feet and is one of the college's best-known symbols. The library opened in 1928. On its lower level is José Clemente Orozco's mural "The Epic of American Civilization," a series of 24 fresco panels painted between 1932 and 1934 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013. Check the library's visitor policies before you go, as access can change during the academic year.

Arts on the south side. The Hood Museum of Art and the Hopkins Center for the Arts sit near the south end of the Green. Our museums and galleries guide covers them in detail.

Traditions on the Green. The Green is still the college's gathering place. In the fall term, Dartmouth's Homecoming, officially called Dartmouth Night, is marked by a bonfire on the Green built by the first-year class. Check the college's calendar if you want to see it, or avoid the crowds.

Late fall on the Green. With the leaves down in November, the brick and white-clapboard buildings around the Green are easier to see, and a loop of the lawn takes only a few minutes. Bring a warm layer; late-fall afternoons in the Upper Valley get dark early.

Where to stay

Hanover Inn Dartmouth

The Hanover Inn Dartmouth overlooks the Green and describes itself as the only hotel that does so. The inn traces more than 200 years of history and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Its restaurant, PINE, is just off the lobby. Valet parking is available for a fee, and the hotel says it is dog-friendly with advance reservation and a fee.

Six South St Hotel

A block south at 6 South Street, Six South St Hotel is a recently reimagined boutique hotel with midcentury modern design and a freestanding fireplace in its social space. The hotel's restaurant is Casa Brava Tapas, and the Green is a short walk away.

Where to eat and drink

Umpleby's Bakery and Cafe

At 3 South Street, Umpleby's Bakery and Cafe serves breakfast and lunch and takes special orders for desserts. It is a good place for coffee and a pastry before a walk around campus. Check the cafe's website for current hours.

Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine

At 44 South Main Street, Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine offers dine-in, takeout and delivery with a full bar. There is a second location in West Lebanon. It is an easy dinner option after a day on foot.

Where to browse

Still North Books and Bar

Still North Books and Bar is at 3 Allen Street, just off Main Street. It is an independent bookstore with staff picks, bestsellers and author events. As the name says, it also has a bar. Check the store's website for current hours and upcoming events.

Red Kite Candy

At 5 South Street, Red Kite Candy is a local, independent candy maker. It makes caramels, candy bars, toffee, ice cream and seasonal treats such as holiday nougat, and says it makes as much as possible in-house. Red Kite also ships nationwide, but the shop is a good stop for early holiday gifts.

Getting outside

The Appalachian Trail runs right through Hanover, connecting with a number of local trails and nature preserves. The Velvet Rocks Trail, on the Appalachian Trail, has rock climbing and bouldering spots. Many of Hanover's trails are suitable for snowshoes and cross-country skis once winter arrives. In November, expect short days, cold mornings and possible early snow, and check trail conditions before you go.

A simple half-day plan

• Start with coffee and a pastry on South Street.
• Walk a loop of the Green, past Dartmouth Hall and Baker's tower.
• Browse the bookstore on Allen Street and pick up something sweet on South Street.
• Finish with an early dinner downtown before the evening gets dark.

A fun detail for history fans: the Dresden School District serving Hanover and Norwich, Vermont, was the first interstate school district in the nation. Its name recalls the era when the southwest corner of Hanover around the college was known as "Dresden" and, in the 1780s, briefly joined the independent Vermont Republic before returning to New Hampshire.

Tips for visiting

• Park once. Downtown Hanover is compact. Park once and walk between the Green, Main Street and South Street.
• Watch the academic calendar. Hanover is a college town, and big campus weekends can affect hotel availability and parking. Check Dartmouth's calendar when you plan, and book early if your dates line up with a major event.
• Cross the river. Norwich, Vermont, is just across the Connecticut River if you want to add a second village to your walk.
• Pair it with Lebanon. Downtown Lebanon is a short drive south and has its own opera house and arts center.
• Check before you go. Hours change by season, and many businesses update their schedules in late fall.

FAQ

Is Hanover, NH walkable?

Yes. The main village is compact, with Dartmouth Green, Main Street and South Street all within a few blocks.

When was Dartmouth College founded?

In 1769, beside the town common on a level tract known as "the Plain."

What is the mural in Baker Library?

"The Epic of American Civilization" by José Clemente Orozco, 24 fresco panels painted from 1932 to 1934 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013.

Does the Appalachian Trail go through Hanover?

Yes. The trail crosses the town and links with several local trails and preserves.

Sources

• Hanover, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, routes, charter, Dartmouth's founding, Dresden School District, Appalachian Trail, Velvet Rocks): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover,_New_Hampshire
• Dartmouth College, Wikipedia (the Green as original sports field, Baker tower, Homecoming bonfire): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmouth_College
• Dartmouth Hall, Wikipedia (1784 site, 1791 completion, 1904 fire, rebuild, 2021-2022 renovation): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmouth_Hall
• Baker-Berry Library, Wikipedia (1928 opening, Independence Hall model, 200-foot tower): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker-Berry_Library
• The Epic of American Civilization, Wikipedia (24 panels, 1932-1934, National Historic Landmark 2013): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epic_of_American_Civilization
• Business details: Hanover Inn Dartmouth official website: https://www.hanoverinn.com/our-hotel/about-amenities/
• Business details: Six South St Hotel official website: https://sixsouth.com/
• Business details: Umpleby's Bakery and Cafe official website: https://umplebys.com/directions/
• Business details: Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine official website: https://www.tuktukthaicuisine.com/
• Business details: Still North Books and Bar official website: https://stillnorthbooks.com/
• Business details: Red Kite Candy official website: https://redkitecandy.com/pages/about-us