Whenever some folks stare at nature's handiwork too long, invariably shapes begin to take on a likeness of something familiar in their lives. It's easy to see why New Hampshire's Old Man in the Mountain had sparked a great interest since its discovery in the early 1800s. The stone profile, made up of five granite ledges, became the state's emblem in 1945. It has also appeared on the state's license plates and quarter, as well as postage stamps.
   The rock outcropping, once estimated to be 10,000 years old, measured 40 feet tall and rested about 1200 feet above Profile Lake in Franconia Notch. As with any natural rock formation, centuries of frost and thaw cycles took their toll. The first geological survey in 1870 concluded the stone face could fall anytime. The time came on May 3rd, 2003. With the collapse, a great sadness spread throughout the state. The inspiration for Daniel Webster's short story, The Great Stone Face, was gone.
   The main photo predates the collapse of the Face and offers a look at New Hampshire's iconic rock wonder. Attempts at preservation had failed, but talk of its re-creation still abound. If you are in the area, you may get a better idea of what this rock face looked like at Profiler Plaza in Franconia Notch. The plaza, designed by Ron Magers and Shelly Bradbury, features a new site for visitors to envision how the historic rock face once appeared. The new attraction went to great lengths to place its guests in the best position, depending on the person's height, to recreate the once much-loved New Hampshire emblem.

     Area Map to Plaza