Franconia got its name because the landscape reminded early settlers of the Franconian Alps in Germany. The area of Franconia Notch is well known for its natural features, including Echo Lake, the Flume Gorge, the Basin, and Mounts Lafayette, Lincoln, and Garfield. Many of which are in Franconia Notch State Park. For decades one of the most beloved attractions in the Notch was the Old Man in the Mountain, a natural rock formation that resembled an old man's face jutting out 1,200 feet above Profile Lake. In 2003, the Old Man collapsed, but he still appears on New Hampshire quarters. Franconia is also home to Cannon Mountain ski area, which is operated by the state. The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway was the first passenger tramway built in North America. One of Franconia's most famous residents was renowned poet Robert Frost.
