Celebrating 250 Years: The Declaration’s Legacy in the White Mountains

By Peter Crane

We are now approaching July Fourth, Independence Day, the day when we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. A noteworthy day for a noteworthy document, which had such significance for what became our nation.

It’s always worth taking another look at that document, given its significance in 1776, a significance which indeed reverberates even today.

If you take a look at the signers of that document, you might note some familiar names, which brings us to this question:

Which signers of the Declaration of Independence are honored by mountain names in the White Mountains?

Two hints:

1. There are six such individuals.
2. George Washington is NOT one them….he did not sign the Declaration (though he was very much involved in consequent activity).

Find the answers below.

Looking down the southern Presidentials close to sunset.

The six signers of the Declaration of Independence who are commemorated in names of White Mountain peaks are:

• John Adams (Mount Adams)
• Samuel Adams (Mount Sam Adams)
• Josiah Bartlett (Mount Bartlett, near Mount Kearsarge (North)
• John Hancock (Mount Hancock, North and South peaks, north of the hairpin turn on the Kancamagus Highway)
• Thomas Jefferson (Mount Jefferson)
• Benjamin Franklin (Mount Franklin, in the southern Presidential area)(also a signer of the Constitution)

Happy 250th Independence Day!