New Hampshire is known as the “granite state” due to its abundance of granite. The state has two types of granite, Conway and Concord, which are named after cities within the state. The largest quarry in New Hampshire is operated by the Swenson family. The Old Man of the Mountain, a natural sculpture on Profile Mountain, is another contributing factor to the state’s nickname. Granite mining became popular in the late 1700s and eventually provided materials for monuments around the world.
Due to the abundance of granite, an igneous rock composed primarily of quartz, New Hampshire has been awarded the nickname of the granite state. Granite mining became increasingly popular throughout New Hampshire and Vermont in the late 1700s, which sparked the private ownership of small quarries across the state. This profession grew rapidly and eventually larger quarries emerged. In the late 1800s, the largest quarry in New Hampshire was incorporated by the Swenson family and is currently operated by fifth generation family members. Aside from the amount of this natural resource located in the granite state, it is also known to have two types of granite, Conway and Concord.
Conway granite features salmon-colored feldspar that mixes with quartz and mica to create the orange appearance of this rock. Concord granite is grayish with a unique salt and pepper appearance and is known for its absence of imperfections. While both types of granite can be found in other places, they are named after two cities within the granite state. In 1825, Marquis De Layfette, a general in the US Army, is said to have visited New Hampshire and remarked that it was the granite state, which has been referred to ever since.
Another granite phenomenon in New Hampshire is the Old Man of the Mountain, which is a profile picture of an elderly man on the side of Profile Mountain. The height of this natural sculpture has been recorded at about 40 feet (about 12.19 m), and the general opinion is that it was formed during the end of the glacial period. This is another contributing factor to the granite state’s nickname but the official date of discovery of this mountain profile is a matter of dispute. It has been noted that this landmark became an attraction in the early 1800s and has been the inspiration for several poems, paintings, and other artistic works.
Granite mining in New Hampshire was a small business in the 1700s, but in the early 1800s prisoners began building a state prison out of granite slabs. The rock gained popularity and eventually the granite state would provide materials for monuments around the world. By the 1890s, granite was readily available to many locations with the introduction of railroads, and the granite industry continued to grow steadily.
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