Rocky Gorge: a favorite stop since the Civil War

When the railroads came to Conway in 1864, the White Mountains became more accessible to tourists as the Boston and Maine Railroad brought its lines into Conway. The grueling three-day stagecoach journey from Boston became an easy four-hour train trip, and summer visitors flocked to the area eager to explore the rugged outdoors. Many local farmers earned extra income by welcoming these visitors into their homes, which were the first hotels in the region. By summer 1895, guests traveled by train and then by stagecoach to the nearby Carrigain House, perhaps the most elegant tourist spot in the valley, and day trips to the gorge were a favorite pastime.

Albany, New Hampshire · United States