U.S. #1068 1955 3¢ Old Man of the Mountain New Hampshire Issue - Sheet of 50

Description

U.S. #1068
1955 3¢ Old Man of the Mountain
New Hampshire Issue
Issue Date:
June 21, 1955
City:
Franconia, New Hampshire
Quantity:
125,944,400
Printed by:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method:
Rotary Press
Perforations:
10 ½ x 11
Color:
Green
The scene on U.S. #1068, “The Old Man of the Mountain,” no longer exists. Discovered around 1805, The Old Man of the Mountain was a 40-foot-high granite formation that resembled a human face jutting out of the mountain. It was located on a 1,200-foot-high cliff on Cannon Mountain. It became a major tourist destination and was established as New Hampshire’s official trademark in 1945. It’s likeness is shown on the New Hampshire State Quarter.
On May 3, 2003, part of the formation collapsed. Over the years, the freezing and thawing of ice in the granite ridges combined with vibration from nearby traffic to open gaps in the figure’s forehead. During the 1920s, the crack was contained by chains to prevent it from widening. In 1957, two years after the stamp was issued, the state legislature provided ,000 to keep the formation intact. Upkeep was performed every summer.
In 2004, a resolution was unsuccessfully presented to change the New Hampshire State Flag to include the image of the Old Man. A state-sponsored memorial was begun in 2010.