FRANCONIA NOTCH - Celebrate Old Man of the Mountain Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 3, with a visit to Profile Plaza in Franconia Notch. Tour the plaza and the seven steel profilers that recreate the visage of the famous Granite Face and meet members of the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund Board of Directors.
The Old Man of the Mountain, a New Hampshire icon that adorns state road signs, license plates, New Hampshire quarters, memorabilia and much more, fell from its perch on Cannon Cliff on May 3, 2003. Last year on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of that dramatic event, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and the state legislature officially named May 3 as Old Man of the Mountain Day in New Hampshire.
The Legacy Fund Directors are building on the connections that many people have to the Old Man's legacy, as demonstrated with the outpouring of memories and stories shared during the 20th anniversary events. The beloved symbol continues to resonate with residents and visitors to the area.
A goal of the Directors is to turn the current historic site building into the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Center, an interpretive center/museum containing artifacts and historic information about the Old Man of the Mountain that demonstrate how it remains relevant today and into the future.
Beginning on May 3, the Legacy Fund website at www.oldmannh.org will feature a video overview of the Old Man of the Mountain's impact with a welcoming introduction from Brian Fowler, President of the Legacy Fund board.
Visitors will find the video is a quick overview of the many aspects of the Old Man of the Mountain and Franconia Notch, including its heritage; its significance as an outdoor recreational area; its impact on New Hampshire arts and culture; the geology and science of Cannon Cliff where the Old Man perched; the role natural resource preservation plays; and the many Old Man of the Mountain caretakers.
"We'll be at Profile Plaza on May 3, rain, shine, wind or snow, because you never know what the weather will be like here in early May," says Fowler. "So many people have told us how much the Old Man has meant to them and their families, sometimes across many generations. The Legacy Fund board doesn't want this history to be lost. We want current and future visitors to share some of that same excitement and awe that travelers through Franconia Notch over many, many years experienced at this historic location. Our website will continue to post updates as the project emerges, so stay tuned."
The Old Man of the Mountain Profile Plaza is located off Exit 34B from I-93 (Aerial Tramway Exit).
