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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.  

The subject of White Mountain prints and graphics is broad.  The purpose of this website, or virtual exhibit, is to demonstrate the breadth of the material and encourage its  further study and appreciation.  We certainly do not claim this to be a definitive presentation of the subject.  It's just a beginning.

The works of many painters of the White Mountain school were reproduced as engravings and lithographs, often without credit to the artists.  While much has been written about White Mountain painting, little attention has been paid to the engravings and lithographs that were distributed to a much wider audience.  In addition, hotels produced illustrated advertising pieces and other ephemera.  Guide books included engravings of hotels and scenic wonders.  Dozens of books and magazines included still more graphics.  Sheet music was written about the region and illustrated with appropriate graphics.  Maps included cuts of scenery and buildings, and letterheads used still more.   Bird's Eye views were produced of several White Mountain towns. 

The combined impact of these images encouraged Americans to visit the White Mountains and contributed to the rapid expansion of the tourist industry.

We suggest you start by the reading the excellent introduction to the subject, written by Georgia Barnhill. 

Clicking on the images below, or using the links above, will take you to the various sections.  We encourage your comments, corrections and additional information.

Artist Prints        

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.

Bird's Eye Views 

Over sixty Bird's Eye Views were produced of New  Hampshire cities and towns. Several were done for  towns  in the White Mountains.

Books and Magazines

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.

Ephemera

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.

Guide Book Illustrations 

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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.

            
Illustrations on Maps

        
Publishers of  Maps used engravings of  White Mountain scenery and  hotels,  starting with the Carrigain Map of New Hampshire in 1816.
 

Sheet Music

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.