Skip to Content

“Franconia Notch, White Mountains—Echo Lake and Profile House,” by Edward Hill, 1887 New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, NH

Tourists were not the only ones who were inspired to head to the mountains: news of tall trees brought loggers. More and more land was sold to speculators—both to benefit tourists and to benefit loggers. The State of New Hampshire sold off the remaining public lands, including Mount Washington, in 1867 for $25,000. Soon thereafter, all White Mountain real estate was in private hands. Hotels sprang up as the sound of saws penetrated deeper into the forests.

First Glen House with cutting for the Mt. Washington Road, 1880 Larrabee Collection, Photographs, Special Collections, New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, NH