Old Man of the Mountain
| Old Man of the Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Great Stone Face, The Profile | |
Old Man of the Mountain on April 26, 2003, seven days before the collapse | |
| Type | Rock formation (former) |
| Location | Cannon Mountain, Franconia, New Hampshire, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°09′38″N 71°41′00″W / 44.1606203°N 71.6834169°W |
| Elevation | 3,130 feet (950 m) |
| Height | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Formed | ≈ 300 to 12,000 years ago |
| Demolished | May 3, 2003 (collapsed) |
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The Old Man of the Mountain, also called the Great Stone Face and the Profile, was a series of five granite cliff ledges on Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire, United States, that appeared to be the jagged profile of a human face when viewed from the north. The rock formation, 1,200 feet (370 m) above Profile Lake, was 40 feet (12 m) tall and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide.
The Old Man of the Mountain is called "Stone Face" by the Abenaki and is a symbol within their culture. It is also a symbol to the Mohawk people. The first written mention of the Old Man was in 1805. It became a landmark and a cultural icon for the state of New Hampshire, and has been featured as the Emblem of New Hampshire since 1945. It collapsed on May 3, 2003. After its collapse, residents considered replacing it with a replica, but the idea was ultimately rejected. It remains a visual icon on the state's license plates and in other places.