Franconia in Grafton County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Franconia College
1963 - 1978
Photographed By Kelly Marsh, July 29, 2023
1. Franconia College 1963 - 1978 Marker
In 1963, an emerging Franconia College purchased the former Forest Hills grand hotel, built on this site in 1882. Bending the norms of higher education, the college offered self-directed study, and administrative decisions were made by faculty and students at freewheeling community meetings. The experimental school was part of a national trend in progressive education during an era of revolution and change. Faced with mounting financial pressures, it closed its doors in 1978. By 1986 the building was no longer extant.
Erected 2019 by New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. (Marker Number 0263.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the New Hampshire Historical Highway Markers series list.
Location. 44° 13.556′ N, 71° 43.038′ W. Marker is in Franconia, New Hampshire, in Grafton County. Marker is on New Hampshire Route 142, on the right when traveling south. Located in the area of 99 Forest Hill Road, Franconia, NH. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Franconia NH 03580, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Stone Iron Furnace (approx. 1.9 miles away); 1889 Iron Bridge (approx. 1.9 miles away); Early Franconia
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Franconia College: An Experiment In The White Mountains That Changed A N.H. Town Forever (NHPR). NHPR piece on the college - text and pictures, plus 7 minutes of audio. (Submitted on August 9, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire.)
2. Franconia College: Attempt At Utopia, Or Unwelcome Counterculture Outpost? (WBUR). 6 minutes of audio: “In the 1960s and '70s, a group of educators and students undertook an experiment in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For some, it was an attempt at utopia. But for some fearful outsiders, it was an unwelcome outpost for the counterculture of the time. New Hampshire Public Radio's Robert Garrova (@robertgarrova) takes us back to Franconia College, the state's liberal arts sanctuary that's all but lost to time.” (Submitted on August 9, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire. Photo 1. submitted on July 29, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
