"The Great Stone Space"

[Carter711]

On May 3, 2003 New Hampshire was put in the unusual position of seeing its official state emblem, and its most recognizable symbol - the Old Man of the Mountains- vanish, surrendering to the elements of nature and plummeting to the depths of Franconia Notch. And yet he lives on, remaining the state's official emblem and gracing everything from the state license plates and state police cruisers, to the highway signs, even the state's quarter. So my question is, is it time for NH to replace the Old Man with another symbol, seeing as how he no longer exists?

Before

After

In better days...

[Cotuit]

So my question is, is it time for NH to replace the Old Man with another symbol, seeing as how he no longer exists?

For me, in a word: No.

Gone, but not forgotten.

[M. Brown]

For me, in a word: No.

Gone, but not forgotten.

[runawayjim]

why change a very recognizable symbol?

that being said... i don't understand why people were so heartbroken that a natural rock formation actually fell. rocks fall all the time. it was just a pile of rocks and it's still a pile of rocks. maybe you have to be from new hampshire to understand...

[Cotuit]

that being said... i don't understand why people were so heartbroken that a natural rock formation actually fell. rocks fall all the time.

It wasn't just a pile of rocks, it was a constant symbol in people's lives. I actually called my mom as soon as I heard it had fallen. You could say that a painting is just some pigmented oil on a cnavas, or that a building is just a pile of bricks, that doesn't lessen the emotional attachment.

[runawayjim]

It wasn't just a pile of rocks, it was a constant symbol in people's lives. I actually called my mom as soon as I heard it had fallen. You could say that a painting is just some pigmented oil on a cnavas, or that a building is just a pile of bricks, that doesn't lessen the emotional attachment.

a painting was something someone made... like i would be heartbroken if mount rushmore collapsed.

but i guess i see your point.

[Carter711]

a painting was something someone made... like i would be heartbroken if mount rushmore collapsed.

but i guess i see your point.

I have to disagree with you there. The Old Man's charm was that he was formed by nature. If he were 'rebuilt' it would defeat the purpose of what made him unique. Once he's gone, he's gone for good. If Mount Rushmore collapsed tomorrow, I'm sure it would be rebuilt in no time to look exactly like it had, and no one would mind or know the difference, since its a man-made formation.

As for people being upset about it, yeah sure some people were a little ridiculous. But it was kind of a rite of passage for kids during their White Mountains vacation to pull off the parkway and gaze up at him. Did I break down and cry when I heard? No. Was I sad? Sure. One day I would have liked to take my kids up to see him.

[Cotuit]

a painting was something someone made... like i would be heartbroken if mount rushmore collapsed.

but i guess i see your point.

Someone made the paiting, not me, so it really makes no difference to me if it was a person, or nature (or the creator as some may believe). People find art and beauty in many things, and attachments are made. I'm sure you can find something natural that you would be devastated to lose, be it a pond you swam in as a kid, or a forest you enjoy hiking in...

Did I break down and cry when I heard? No.

I almost cried. It was a big part of my childhood, and it's very sad that it's gone. Of course its one thing to acknowledge that sadness then move on, it's another to get all crazy and demand a fiberglass replica be installed, that's ignoring what made it so special in the first place.

[runawayjim]

Someone made the paiting, not me, so it really makes no difference to me if it was a person, or nature (or the creator as some may believe). People find art and beauty in many things, and attachments are made. I'm sure you can find something natural that you would be devastated to lose, be it a pond you swam in as a kid, or a forest you enjoy hiking in...

I almost cried. It was a big part of my childhood, and it's very sad that it's gone. Of course its one thing to acknowledge that sadness then move on, it's another to get all crazy and demand a fiberglass replica be installed, that's ignoring what made it so special in the first place.

the difference between losing a forest or a pond and losing a rock structure that is supported only by the rocks is that the forest and pond would most likely have to be destroyed by humans (which is devastating to the environment to begin with), while the rock structure (which did have some artificial support installed at one point) simply fell.

i've heard that people wnat it rebuilt and held together... i think that's ridiculous.

i don't know... i just don't really get super attached to any specific things (other than the fiancee of course, and i can't forget providence).

[tombarnes]

It would probably be best to hold it close in memory. Perhaps a memorial of some sort could be built near the site. Creating a replica is an unfortunate idea and would defeat the wonder of the original. The original was a natural happenstance. A full-scale replica would hardly capture the majesty of the original. As noted above, I am not from New Hampshire, so it's hard for me to gauge the depth of sentiment for the original, but I might imagine that a replica would not be held as dearly in the hearts of the natives of the Free State.