R.I.P. Old Man in the Mountain

[sween32]

You'll be missed

FRANCONIA, N.H. — The Old Man of the Mountain, a stern granite profile that symbolized the state's independence and stubbornness, is gone, likely the victim of the same natural forces that created it thousands of years ago.

A state park trails crew reported at about 7:30 Saturday that the 40-foot tall face was gone from Profile Mountain.

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/03/nh_old_man.htm

 

[cromagnon]

Bummer. I remember visiting it at least once when I was 13 or so.

 

[Cecasander]

So their independence is lost? Great, lets recolonize New Hampshire

 

[napoleon526]

Too bad. Wasn't that on the N.H. state quarter?

 

[sween32]

yup. also their license plates, street signs, and just about everything else.

 

[Plexus]

Sucks for them! I can't imagine not having the Golden Gate Bridge anymore...

 

[PantheraTigris2]

Well, that's too bad. I visited there many times as a kid, when we'd vacation to New Hampshire in the summer. My grandfather, who was born and raised in Bartlett, NH - always had a saying, "the people come, and the people go... but the mountains stay the same". Well, not entirely true, it seems.

But hey, they've still got that Alpine Slide! As long as that's still there, who cares! Yeehaw!

 

[Archer 007]

That sucks. Almost like Georgia losing Stone Mountain.

 

[Chris85]

Originally posted by Cecasander
So their independence is lost? Great, lets recolonize New Hampshire

Remember we're not recolonizing NH, we're just liberating them from years of oppression.

That's too bad one of our nation's natural treasures is now in pieces

 

[Perfection]

Oh, I'm sure our good buddy geology will cook us up some other cool landmark, twas cool while it lasted!

 

[CivCube]

That's the spirit, Perfection! Now let us have some dynamite and create an even grander work of art on that mountain.

I envision a giant Thunderfall...

 

[puglover]

I never saw it.

 

[gr8ful wes]

All things must pass.

Its too bad. Its nice when a region has a lanmark that they really identify with.

Reminds me of that Huge oak that died in Maryland last year, it was over 400 yrs old.

 

[xghost]

I never saw it, but I do feel sorry for those affected by the loss of this great, er, rock. Personally, I think the Old Man of the Mountain had it coming (not meant to insult)

 

[WillJ]

Interesting, never knew it existed.

Truly a great loss, though.

 

[HighlandWarrior]

Good to see they might "rebuild" it.

 

[CornMaster]

This was on the front page of our newspaper. It was only a small article...but none the less, thought you might like to know.

 

[Dralix]

I'm confused. In the article, which picture is before it collapsed? I think the top pic looks more like a face, but the article suggests that it's the bottom pic.

EDIT: After looking again, it's clear that the top picture is more recent, since it has less rock. I still say it looks more like a face than the other ...

 

[CornMaster]

It still looks like a face...but like he's laid back in his recliner...taking it easy...drinking a bud.

 

[sween32]

Restored or not, Old Man lives on as a symbol of N.H.

The license plates won't change. Neither will the highway signs. Or the state letterhead. Or even this state's very own quarter. The Old Man of the Mountain has fallen, but the image of that hardened face won't slide away just yet.

''I don't see how we ever change those things,'' Governor Craig Benson said yesterday. ''The logo is everywhere. It identifies this state. Very few states have a symbol like that.''

http://travel.boston.com/places/newengland/stories/050503_nh_old_man_image.html