Bretton Woods lies in the foothills of the Presidential Range and New England's highest peak, Mount Washington. The 6,288 foot high mountain, the highest in the northeast, is popular with hikers, especially those tackling the Appalachian Trail. Those not up for climbing the mountain on foot may reach the top via the Cog Railway or the Mount Washington Auto Road.
   In 1770, a 24,640 acres acre parcel was laid out by Royal Governor John Wentworth as a plantation estate, later known as the town of Carroll. One large section of the property retained the Bretton name, Wentworth's ancestral home in West Yorkshire, England.
   Two of the most visible man-made structures in Bretton Woods are the Cog Railway and the Mount Washington Hotel. The most luxurious hotel of its day, the Mount Washington Hotel catered to wealthy guests from Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Financed by New Hampshire native Joseph Stickney, who made his fortune in mining and railroads, Stickney called for the latest design and construction methods. Unique for the early 1900s, hotel construction designs by Charles Alling Gifford utilized a steel framework. Modern heating and indoor plumbing systems were installed, as well as having its own power plant. Totaling over 50 million in today's dollars, hotel guests were lavished with every creature comfort. In 1986, the hotel was honored with a National Historic Landmark designation.

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