When the Old Man of The Mountain collapsed in Franconia Notch in 2003, its demise resonated far beyond New Hampshire to make national and international headlines. People mourned as if they had lost a loved one. Although the Old Man has fallen, it remains the official emblem of the State and endures as a symbol of New Hampshire's beauty and of the independent spirit of its residents, past and present. Today we continue to celebrate and explore the history of the Old Man's presence in New Hampshire and the remarkable stories of those who worked to preserve and protect the rocky profile. 

This slide-illustrated talk describes the Old Man’s geologic, human, and cultural history since his discovery in 1805 and then reviews the extraordinary continuing influence and lasting legacy that the Old Man has left for us.