The "Old Man of the Mountain" was not really an old man, but a rock formation that resembled the face of an old man in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The natural formation was at least 40 feet high and 25 feet wide. It became such a symbol of the state of New Hampshire, that "he" was featured on the back of the state's quarter in the year 2000. Old Man of the Mountain was also honored on a United States Postage Stamp in 1955.
The old man, however, did not last forever. On May 3, 2003, he crumbled to the ground, despite efforts made by the state of New Hampshire to keep him atop the mountain for the last 75 years! People were so sad that some placed flowers at the base of his mountain.
1.) What was the “Old Man of the Mountain”?
2.) Where was the Old Man of the Mountain located?
3.) Approximately how large was the formation?
4.) Which honors did the Old Man of the Mountain receive before 2003?
5.) What happened on May 3, 2003?
6.) For about how long did New Hampshire try to keep the formation in place?
7.) How did some people react after the formation fell?
8.) In the passage, the word “crumbled” most nearly means…