Out of Nowhere: Disaster and Tourism in the White Mountains

Rating:
Summary: interesting history of NH's White Mountain region
Review: Author Eric Purchase makes the case that New Hampshire's tourism industry took off after an 1826 tragedy in which the entire Willey family, who ran an inn in the Crawford Notch area, was killed trying to outrun an avalanche that left their home untouched. Along the way, we also learn a lot about America of the early 19th century -- tourism, literature, commerce and science -- all are discussed in this interesting literary portrait of a time before nature became romantic.

Lots of b&w photographs and illustrations, notes, references and an index.