1880 Turner Bird's Eye View of the White Mountains, New Hampshire

A promotional view of the White Mountains, complete with hotels and the region's railroads, meant to entice the viewer into a vacation. Boston preacher William H. H. Murray launched the era of 'wilderness vacations' in 1869 with his book Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp Life about camping in the Adirondacks. The idea caught on quickly. By 1900, tens of thousands of Americans were flocking to 'rugged' mountainous regions as a sort of tonic against the evils of city life. All the elements of a good vacation brochure are present here. Railroads are illustrated and labeled, demonstrating the ease with which vacationers could access the beauty of the White Mountains. Numerous lodgings are also presented, suggesting that all comers will be well accommodated. The whole experience is completed by the Portland and Worcester Railroad printed on the verso.

Publication History and Census

This view was created by H.N. Turner, engraved by Henry M. Snyder, and published in 1880. One example is catalogued in the OCLC and is part of the collection at the University of Michigan.