Five Historic Sites To Visit, White Mountains – Many historic sites in the New Hampshire White Mountains are well known among locals and tourists while others remain forgotten deep in the forest and probably will never be rediscovered. The known sites can help create awareness for historic preservation.
Today I want to share with you a few of the historic sites that are worth visiting in the White Mountains region. I have spent many days exploring and photographing the historic sites included in this blog article. Each site is unique and helps tell the fascinating story of the White Mountains.
One of my favorite historic sites to visit in the New Hampshire White Mountains is the ghost town of Livermore (above two images). Incorporated by the state of New Hampshire in 1876, Livermore was a logging town in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. You can read more about this ghost town here.
Being the “Granite State”, it is no surprise that New Hampshire has a few abandoned granite quarries. At the base of Rattlesnake Mountain in Redstone, New Hampshire (part of the town of Conway) is the abandoned Redstone Granite Quarry (above). The quarry opened in the late eighteen hundreds and closed in the nineteen forties. A visit to this quarry is like stepping back in time. You can read more about the quarry here.
Built in 1923 by Forest Supervisor Clifford Graham, the Fabyan Guard Station (above) is located along the old Jefferson Turnpike, now Old Cherry Mountain Road, in the New Hampshire White Mountains. Spruce logs from the surrounding area were used to build the cabin, and it was the first permanent structure built on White Mountain National Forest land by Forest Service. You can view more photos of the guard station here.
If you are looking for some adventure hike into the Pemigewasset Wilderness in Lincoln and visit the historic timber Trestle 16 (above) of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad. History suggests construction of this trestle was sometime between 1903-1917. It amazes me that this trestle is still standing after all these years, and I often wonder when it is going to collapse. You can view more photos of the trestle here.
The last historic site is outside of the White Mountains, but it is worth mentioning because after many years of being abandoned the Nansen Ski Jump (above) in Milan New Hampshire is in the process of being preserved, and will become a tourist attraction in the future. Built in 1936 the Nansen Ski Jump at one time held major ski championships. And in 1938, the first Olympic Trials were held on the site.
All of the above images can be licensed for publications by clicking on the image you are interested in. And you can read more about the history of the New Hampshire White Mountains here.
Happy image making..
If you plan to visit any of the above historic sites, please respect them. Take only pictures, and remember, it is illegal to remove any artifact from federal land.
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Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.