Comment Re:Just what I was looking for (Score 2, Interesting) 162
A few things I haven't seen mentioned yet ...
A lot of the respect and appeal of the Old Man comes from Daniel Webster's quote "Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men." Daniel Webster and his ability to debate and orate is historically more respected and revered then any other person in New Hampshire's history, including the one NH-born president Franklin Pierce, and Gen. John Stark (who is responsible for the source of the state motto "Live Free or Die: Death is not the worst of evils"). That has a great deal to do with why the Old Man was such a significant source of pride and interest in New Hampshire, and not just a coincidental pile of rocks.
In terms of its structure, if you've ever seen it, it's pretty clear that the rocks comprising the Old Man's face protrudes from a sheer granite rock face and looks completely un-natural compared to the rest of the landscape of the White Mountains. It's un-natural appearance makes the fact that it was naturally formed by receding glaciers at least a little interesting and significant. Additionally, it's gradual decay over the decades since it was discovered has made for a well recorded indicator of how the mountains of NH are evolving and changing over time. Since NH's greatest asset is it's environmental resources, it's important!
Even if you consider the only positive aspect of the Old Man to be it's contribution to the NH tourism industry, that contribution has been playing a major role in keeping me free of sales tax, income tax, excise tax, excessive tolls, and every other kind of bureaucratic fee known to man for about 30 years now. You know what I pay for a $0.99 pack of gum? F@#*ing $0.99! I use three Old Man of the Mountain quarters and whatever coins I find under the seat of my cheaply insured car. The money it's saved me in my lifetime is more then enough for me to want a tribute to it erected. MA, CT, NY, NJ, and Canadian tourists will be paying for it anyway. Even since the Old Man fell, NH's tourism industry hasn't seen a serious decline (excluding the current world-wide recession).
As far as the proposed replacement, it's much better then previous home-brew ideas. The article referenced in the main post also doesn't make mention of just how visitors will get to the new monument. Cannon Mountain, which abuts Profile Mountain's peak, in any season or condition, is a pretty brutal climb, with no current trails leading to the rock face where the old man was. If they successfully address that issue, there's a lot more of an overall experience to visiting this monument then is immediately apparent, which may bring even more interest in the site then before where the average tourist just stopped by the side of the road, looked at it, bought a magnet, and moved on.
Greatest state in the union. Deal with it.
A lot of the respect and appeal of the Old Man comes from Daniel Webster's quote "Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men." Daniel Webster and his ability to debate and orate is historically more respected and revered then any other person in New Hampshire's history, including the one NH-born president Franklin Pierce, and Gen. John Stark (who is responsible for the source of the state motto "Live Free or Die: Death is not the worst of evils"). That has a great deal to do with why the Old Man was such a significant source of pride and interest in New Hampshire, and not just a coincidental pile of rocks.
In terms of its structure, if you've ever seen it, it's pretty clear that the rocks comprising the Old Man's face protrudes from a sheer granite rock face and looks completely un-natural compared to the rest of the landscape of the White Mountains. It's un-natural appearance makes the fact that it was naturally formed by receding glaciers at least a little interesting and significant. Additionally, it's gradual decay over the decades since it was discovered has made for a well recorded indicator of how the mountains of NH are evolving and changing over time. Since NH's greatest asset is it's environmental resources, it's important!
Even if you consider the only positive aspect of the Old Man to be it's contribution to the NH tourism industry, that contribution has been playing a major role in keeping me free of sales tax, income tax, excise tax, excessive tolls, and every other kind of bureaucratic fee known to man for about 30 years now. You know what I pay for a $0.99 pack of gum? F@#*ing $0.99! I use three Old Man of the Mountain quarters and whatever coins I find under the seat of my cheaply insured car. The money it's saved me in my lifetime is more then enough for me to want a tribute to it erected. MA, CT, NY, NJ, and Canadian tourists will be paying for it anyway. Even since the Old Man fell, NH's tourism industry hasn't seen a serious decline (excluding the current world-wide recession).
As far as the proposed replacement, it's much better then previous home-brew ideas. The article referenced in the main post also doesn't make mention of just how visitors will get to the new monument. Cannon Mountain, which abuts Profile Mountain's peak, in any season or condition, is a pretty brutal climb, with no current trails leading to the rock face where the old man was. If they successfully address that issue, there's a lot more of an overall experience to visiting this monument then is immediately apparent, which may bring even more interest in the site then before where the average tourist just stopped by the side of the road, looked at it, bought a magnet, and moved on.
Greatest state in the union. Deal with it.
