Under re-construction
for earlier version see this link via the wayback machine
This website has been created by whitemountainhistory.org. Its mission is to identify, record and interpret sites of historical and cultural Importance within New Hampshire's White Mountains and to preserve the photographic and documentary evidence of those sites.
Artists produced thousands of engravings and lithographs of scenes in the White Mountains.
The American Art Union, Currier & Ives, Louis Prang and J. H. Bufford distributed thousands. and in some cases, hundreds of thousands, of copies. The works of Cole, Cropsey, Kensett, Champney, and their contemporaries helped increase public interest in the region, and brought thousands of visitors annually.
Over sixty Bird's Eye Views were produced of New Hampshire cities and towns. Several were done for towns in the White Mountains.
Artists including Winslow Homer created graphics for Harper's Weekly and other widely distributed magazines. Hundreds of books contained thousands of prints. Reports of scientific excursions, such as Jackson's Geological surveys and Oakes Scenery of the White Mountains were illustrated with high quality plates and books by popular writers included many illustrations.
Hotels and scenic attractions published a vast amount of ephemera, most of it illustrated. There are flyers and brochures to attract visitors, menus, letter heads and bill heads, letter sheets, and more. These documents record the expansion of the hotels and describe the latest improvements to the facilities as well as services and entertainments for guests. While well known artists, such as Frank Shapleigh, created some of this ephemera, much work remains to be done to identify other artists and engravers.
.
As more and more visitors came to the region, at first attracted by the Willey family tragedy, illustrated guide books proliferated. Some were updated annually, while others appeared only once or twice. These guides also included illustrated advertisements for hotels and railroads and often included maps.
Publishers of Maps used engravings of White Mountain scenery and hotels, starting with the Carrigain Map of New Hampshire in 1816.
Sheet music was produced for many of the Grand Hotels in the White Mountains. Many had illustrated covers.
Content copyright 2021. Rick Russack and WhiteMountainHistory.org. All rights reserved.