Education

An environment for education and learning:
Carefully researched and designed educational components will complement the memorial and tell the story of the Old Man and his surroundings. Different media will be used to encourage visitation by school groups, enhance the visitor experience, provide off-site enrichment, and build respect for the natural and historical legacy of Franconia Notch.

Major Educational Themes:
• History of the Notch: early settlement and discovery of the Old Man
• Geology of the Franconia and Kinsman ranges; mountain weather
• Natural history: the plants and wildlife that inhabit the forests, lakes and streams
• The Profile House and the hey-day of White Mountain tourism
• Logging in the Franconia region
• Land protection: the battle to save the notch, and the leadership roles of the NH legislature, the NH Chapter of the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, and the Appalachian Mountain Club
• New Hampshire’s premier four-season park: the Tram, skiing, and other attractions
• Transportation: the story of the only interrupted interstate highway in the nation
• The enduring legacy of the state’s signature emble

These themes will be conveyed through the following components:
• Curriculum Resources for Teachers have been developed in partnership with the New Hampshire Historical Society and classroom teachers who have developed their own units on the Old Man and the history of Franconia Notch.
• In addition, A new exhibit, "The Story of the Old Man of the Mountain" opened at the Tram building at Cannon Mountain in May, 2009.  A smaller portable version of the exhibit is available for short-term bookings throughout the state.  A scale model of the planned stoneworks is part of both exhibits.