Is that mountain staring at me?

Maybe it was—but not anymore. The face-like rock formation was called the Old Man of the Mountain. Twenty years ago, it collapsed. Today, the people of New Hampshire remember the loss of this beloved landmark. They celebrate its memory with songs and poetry. Now new research has revealed more about the collapse.

The Old Man of the Mountain probably stood for thousands of years. Historical records first mention it in 1805. The 40-foot-tall rock formation looked like a man’s face. A thick brow jutted over a sharp nose. A pointy chin stuck out from the mountainside.

People created paintings, poems, and stories about the Old Man of the Mountain. Novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about it in a short story called “The Great Stone Face.” In 1945, New Hampshire adopted the Old Man as its official state emblem. The stony face still appears on the state quarter, license plates, and highway signs.

On May 3, 2003, the people of New Hampshire awoke to terrible news. The face had crumbled. It was now a pile of rubble at the foot of the mountain.

Park service workers had placed rods in the mountainside to fight erosion. It didn’t work. The Old Man had collapsed.

At the time, nobody knew exactly how much rock fell. New research suggests it was 750 cubic meters. That amount takes up more space than five school buses. It weighed nearly 2,000 tons.

Matthew Maclay of Dartmouth College led this research. He and his team created a 3-D model of the rock formation. To build the model, they used drones to view the mountain from the air. They also analyzed old photos and film footage of the Old Man before it collapsed.

Want to explore the 3-D model yourself? You can view it here and learn more about this amazing formation. But remember to ask for a parent’s permission before following any links.

In March, New Hampshire lawmakers passed a bill. From now on, May 3 is “Old Man of the Mountain Day” in the state.

Even mountains can collapse. But God stands forever. When we put our trust in Him, we can always stand firm.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. — Psalm 46:2