1895 Map of Crawford Notch

About this map

The Maine Central R. R. carves a critical path through the mountainous terrain of the White Mountains, following the Saco River and passing through the high-altitude pass at Crawford House. This 1895 survey illustrates a landscape defined by dramatic elevation and early alpine tourism, where significant structures like the Willey House and the settlement of Livermore serve as landmarks in a wilderness dominated by the Rosebrook Mountains and the Mont Alban Ridge. The map details the complex drainage patterns of the Sawyer River and Swift River, while highlighting distinctive geological formations such as the Giants Stairs and Thoreau Falls. This era shows the White Mountains during a peak of rail-accessible mountain exploration, before modern preservation transformed the region, documenting the original boundaries of the Crawford Purchase and Bean's Purchase during a time of active timber harvesting and early mountain hospitality.