Cardigan Mountain School A boarding and day school for boys in grades 6 through 9

History

Historical photo of Cardigan boys in the old school station wagon

At Cardigan Mountain School, our forward-thinking program is informed by the School’s rich history and traditions. We embrace the vision of our founders, Harold P. Hinman, a Dartmouth College graduate, and William R. Brewster, headmaster of Kimball Union Academy: they imagined a School that offered a beautiful natural setting and balanced instruction, helping boys build a foundation for future success.

In 1945, these men joined with Dartmouth president E. M. Hopkins to obtain our School’s lakefront home, nestled below Mt. Cardigan’s peak. Cardigan has integrated thoughtfully into this campus, expanding from an initial graduating class of seven boys, merging with the Clark School in 1954, and settling intentionally into our current enrollment of just over 200 boys in grades six through nine. 

Having marked the School’s 75th anniversary, we are proud to note that our philosophy and objectives have remained unchanged. We learn from and value our environment; we emphasize risk-taking and experiential learning; we foster personal responsibility and kindness to others. As Cardigan’s founders envisioned, we remain deeply committed to helping boys realize their potential, so that they can achieve a balanced and well-rounded life.  

“With each and every man of Cardigan doing what he can, within his limitations and within the scopes of his conscience, there is no foreseeing the limits of development in this unique school of ours.”

- Harold "Hap" Hinman

Bev Wakely reads Cardigan Mountain School's History %22Cardigan at 75%22

CARDIGAN AT SEVENTY-FIVE INCLUDES THE FIRST TWO VOLUMES OF THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY, A THIRD VOLUME DETAILING 1995-PRESENT, AND HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS FROM THE CARDIGAN ARCHIVES.

Cardigan History Book

Cardigan recently published the third edition of the School’s history, titled Cardigan at Seventy-Five. This coffee-table book includes a visual introduction to the School today, as well as Cardigan’s written history from its founding to the present day.

You can preview the book as an online PDF or purchase your own copy of Cardigan at Seventy-Five through Cardigan's School Store.

School Store

Early Cardigan & Active Learning


This photo from 1959 features the model airplane club. The boys all designed, built, and flew their own airplanes!

Interested to learn more about Cardigan for your Son? The first step is to click the button below.

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