Out of Nowhere: Disaster and Tourism in the White Mountains

by Eric Purchase and Center for American Places

An examination of the connection of an avalanche on Monday 28th August 1826 in isolated Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, to the rise of tourism in America. It investigates developments that ranged from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080186013X
• ISBN13: 9780801860133
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 4.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

interesting history of NH's White Mountain region

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.