Old Man of the Mountains Viewing Area, New Hampshire

A jagged projection of rock on a high cliff face on Cannon Mountain, resembled the profile of an "old man," when viewed from one angle, and became a famous anthropogeomorphic landmark. This scenic region, Franconia Notch, in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, was among the first developed tourist wildernesses in the country, and the Old Man of the Mountains was part of its lore and allure. The profile became a state symbol, and is still found on highway signs and license plates. The rock formation had been kept from collapsing for decades by members of the state highway and parks departments, who used cables, rock drills, and concrete to hold it in place. It finally collapsed anyways, sometime after midnight on May 3, 2003. At the Old Man of the Mountain Profile Plaza, a viewing area next to Profile Lake, visitors can see what the Old Man looked like at its original location, using optical devices.