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.
Six Husbands Trail, Presidential Range

Six Husbands Trail, Presidential Range - When it comes to rugged mountain trails in the New Hampshire White Mountains, the Six Husbands Trail is at the top of the list. This trail dates back to the early 1900s when the legendary AMC Trail-builder Warren W. Hart was cutting trails in the Great Gulf. From 1908-1910, Hart was AMC’s councilor of improvements, and he oversaw the building of 9 trails in the Great Gulf. He thought trails should be all about ...
Presidential Range, Random History

Presidential Range, Random History - The Presidential Range in the New Hampshire White Mountains is known worldwide for having some of the worst weather in the world. And the main attraction of the range is the mighty Mount Washington. At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. And with the famed Appalachian Trail traveling through this scenic mountain range, it is a busy area....[Continue reading] ...
Ripley Falls, Crawford Notch

Ripley Falls, Crawford Notch - Located on Avalanche Brook in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, the 100 foot Ripley Falls is one of the more picturesque waterfalls in the White Mountains. The Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail passes by this waterfall. And while the waterfall is impressive, the history of Ripley Falls and Avalanche Brook is intriguing....[Continue reading] ...
Random Trail History, White Mountains

Random Trail History, White Mountains - Think about these White Mountains history facts for a minute. Crawford Path is the oldest continuously-used mountain trail in America. Trail maker Charles E. Lowe and Dr. William G. Nowell built Lowe’s Path in 1875-1876. Nathaniel Davis, son-in-law of Abel and Hannah Crawford, built Davis Path in 1845. Nathaniel L. Goodrich (1880-1957) is considered to be the founder of peakbagging in the White Mountains...[Continue reading] ...
Mount Tecumseh, 4000 Footers Hiking List

Mount Tecumseh, 4,000 Footers Hiking List - On the same day that I publicized my Owl’s Head, Conserving Wilderness article, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) posted an article about some of the mountains on the White Mountain 4,000 footers hiking list may not be over 4,000 feet. Being over 4,000 feet is one of the requirements for a mountain to be on the list. While our articles focus on different mountains on the hiking list, they both suggest that the ...
Owl’s Head, Conserving Wilderness

Owl’s Head, Conserving Wilderness - This remote mountain in the western region of the Pemigewasset Wilderness creates much debate. Established in 1984 under the New Hampshire Wilderness Act, the 45,000-acre Pemigewasset Wilderness is managed under the National Wilderness Preservation System and the Wilderness Act. Considered to be one of the greatest conservation laws ever passed, the Wilderness Act has protected over 109 million acres across the United States. The controversy isn’t really about Owl’s Head its about the management of ...
Russell-Colbath House, Passaconaway

Russell-Colbath House, Passaconaway - The Russell-Colbath House is a 19th-century historic house along the Kancamagus Highway in Albany, New Hampshire. Albany was first chartered in 1766 under the name Burton and then renamed Albany in 1833. This old house holds the fascinating story of Ruth Priscilla Russell: the grand old lady of Passaconaway....[Continue reading] ...
Random History, White Mountains

Random History, White Mountains - My work as a photographer has allowed me to explore and document many historical sites in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. And it really has changed the way I view the White Mountains. It amazes me that Darby Field made the first ascent of Mount Washington in 1642. And farming settlements and grand resorts were scattered throughout the region in the 1800s...[Continue reading] ...
East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, Trestle 17

East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, Trestle 17 - Built in the early 1900s, probably 1906-1908 (one reference states 1908) trestle 17 was located along the Upper East Branch of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad. It spanned the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River near the site of logging Camp 17. Camp 17 was located on the south side of the trestle. This trestle is within today’s Pemigewasset Wilderness...[Continue reading] ...
Crawford House, Gibbs Brook Dam

Crawford House, Gibbs Brook Dam - If you're familiar with New Hampshire’s grand resort era then you know the historic Crawford House in Carroll. Abel Crawford and his son, Ethan Allen Crawford built the first Crawford House, known as the Notch House, in 1828. Fire would destroy the Notch House in 1854. A second Crawford House was destroyed by fire in 1859. The history of the Crawford House property is a little confusing because some historians refer to the Notch ...

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.