National Register of Historic Places

Holderness Inn

Holderness, Grafton County, New Hampshire
Listed
December 13, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84000523

About this property

The Holderness Inn is a former 19th century hotel on United States Route 3 in Holderness, New Hampshire. Built in 1895–96, it is the only such building standing in the Squam Lake area, from a period when there were a significant number of resort hotels around the lake. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is now owned by the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and is open seasonally as an art gallery and craft showroom. The former Holderness Inn is on the western fringe of the village center on the north side of US 3. It is a 3+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled mansard roof and clapboarded exterior. A three-story wing extends northeast from the main block, and is similarly roofed. The north side of the wing has had a two-story shed-roof addition added. The main block has a porch that wraps around three sides. The interior was historically arranged with public spaces (lounge and meeting areas, reception, kitchen, and dining area) on the ground floor, and guest rooms on the upper floors. It retains many original finishes, including plaster and woodwork, despite some modifications for its use by the science center. The inn was built in 1895-6 by John Davison, whose previous hotel, a converted parsonage, was destroyed by fire. His business's importance to the local economy was underscored by the town's decision to exempt the property from taxation for ten years if he rebuilt, and it set a reward for the capture of the arsonist who is thought to have set the fire. Originally called the Central Inn, it was soon renamed the Holderness Inn. It was operated by the Davison family until 1967, when it was turned over to the science center. National Register of Historic Places listings in Grafton County, New Hampshire Kirkwood Gardens - Squam Lakes Natural Resources Center

Location

Holderness, Grafton County, New Hampshire
43.73161, -71.58959

Categories

OTHERENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Holderness Inn

This page lists Holderness Inn. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Holderness Inn report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Holderness Free Library
Industrial
0.1 mi
North Holderness Freewill Baptist Church-Holderness Historical Society Building
Industrial
1.8 mi
Camp Ossipee
Industrial
2.1 mi
Webster Estate
Listed
2.5 mi
Chocorua Island Chapel
Listed
2.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Holderness Inn listed on the National Register?

Holderness Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Holderness Inn?

Holderness Inn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Holderness Inn?

The period of significance for Holderness Inn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Holderness Inn?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Holderness Inn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Grafton County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Grafton County.

Explore GraftonCounty ›

More historic places in New Hampshire

Browse all historic places in New Hampshire.

View New Hampshirehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Hampshire history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Hampshirehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Holderness Inn will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report