White Mountains History
White Mountains, New Hampshire history, the abandoned and forgotten places in the White Mountains help tell the fascinating story of our heritage. These articles, blog articles, essays, photographs, and pages showcase the abandoned places, forgotten 19th-century farming settlements, 20th-century ghost towns, railroads, and tourism history (hiking, grand resorts, Mount Washington, waterfalls, etc.) in the White Mountain National Forest and the surrounding region.
Definition of Wilderness, White Mountains

Definition of Wilderness, White Mountains - I am currently working on a project that has brought back into the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The recreational opportunities, historical value, and educational platform this wilderness offers will educate outdoor enthusiasts for many years to come. These areas are governed under the National Wilderness Preservation System and the Wilderness Act of 1964. And because it is designated wilderness, it has the highest level of protection for federal...[Continue reading] ...
Beaver Brook Cascades, Kinsman Notch

Beaver Brook Cascades, Kinsman Notch - The numerous waterfalls in Kinsman Notch are often overlooked. I can only guess Kinsman Notch’s reputation of having rough terrain is what keeps most away from exploring this incredible Notch....[Continue reading] ...
Forgotten White Mountains

Forgotten White Mountains - When most think about the New Hampshire White Mountains, the beauty of the region first comes to mind. The mighty Mount Washington rules the Presidential Range and keeps visitors of the area busy for hours. And during the winter months, ski areas offer an unforgettable view of the mountains blanketed in snow. The White Mountains are an outdoor lover’s paradise...[Continue reading] ...
Cascade Brook Waterfalls, Franconia Notch

Cascade Brook Waterfalls, Franconia Notch - Cascade Brook is in Lincoln, New Hampshire. The Basin-Cascades Trail travels in the area of Cascade Brook. And for the most part, all of the cascades in this blog article are on the side of the trail. But they are not roadside, and one must hike up the Basin-Cascades Trail to reach them....[Continue reading] ...
Trail Blazing, Trail Stewardship

Trail Blazing, Trail Stewardship - Painted trail blazing (paint marks on trees that mark the path of a trail) along the White Mountains trail system is an endless complaint among outdoor enthusiasts. Either the trail is excessively blazed or not blazed enough. I don’t mind the trails that have little trail blazing, but I'm not a fan of the excessive trail blazing...[Continue reading] ...
East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, Trestle 7

East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, Trestle 7 - During the days of the East Branch & Lincoln (EB&L) Railroad, there were two trestles built at this crossing of Franconia Brook (above). And each trestle serviced different areas of today’s Pemigewasset Wilderness. The first trestle built serviced the Franconia Brook and Lincoln Brook Valleys. And the second trestle, built just below...[Continue reading] ...
Thornton Gore Hill Farming Settlement

Thornton Gore Hill Farming Settlement - The abandoned Thornton Gore settlement is in the New Hampshire White Mountains. Many consider Thornton Gore or the "Gore” to be the northern section of Thornton in the area of where Talford and Eastman Brooks meet. This area of Thornton Gore had a number of farms, a few mills, a school, two cemeteries, and a church. The first settlers of Thornton Gore arrived in the early 1800s. And by 1900, George James and his ...
Can You Identify These Artifacts

Can You Identify These Artifacts - When documenting historic sites in the New Hampshire White Mountains one of the biggest challenges I face is trying to identify some of the artifacts I photograph. In the big picture of my historical work, identifying what the artifact is and its purpose is important. And because of this, I have to do an extensive amount of research on some artifacts....[Continue reading] ...
Interesting Finds, White Mountains

Interesting Finds, White Mountains - My documentary work of historic sites takes me to many areas of the White Mountain National Forest. And I have to admit I have come across many things that I just can’t explain. And today I want to share a few of these interesting finds with you.....[Continue reading] ...
Hand of Man in Nature

Hand of Man in Nature - Last week I wrote about how some photographers believe that a true landscape or nature scene is a scene that is absent of all human elements. The scene itself showcases the pure beauty of nature. Well, the opposite of the pure nature scene is the hand of man scene, which includes human elements....[Continue reading] ...
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.