The Basin, Franconia Notch – The Basin is a 20-foot-wide (some say 30 feet), 15 feet deep, glacial pothole along the Pemigewasset River in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire. It was formed by melting glaciers at the end of the last ice age; the combination of the melting glacier water and swirling sand and stones eroded and smoothed the bedrock.
The parking lots (two of them) for the Basin are located on both sides of the Franconia Notch Parkway. From either parking lot, it is a short walk along the Franconia Bike Path to the Basin. The bike path is a multiuse paved path that passes by every roadside attraction in Franconia Notch; it begins at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and ends at the Skookumchuck Trailhead.
Nineteenth-century writers, such as Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), were fascinated with the Basin. In 1839, Thoreau wrote, “this pothole is perhaps the most remarkable curiosity of its kind in New England.” Samuel Coffin Eastman’s (1837-1917) description in The White Mountain Guide Book, Second edition (1867) is possibly the best description of the Basin ever written. Eastman writes, “One is almost tempted to fling aside his outer garments and plunge into this luxurious and delicious bath. It is certainly fit for the ablutions of a goddess.”
During the 1800s, the Basin was a favorite subject among photographers; Charles and Edward Bierstadt (Bierstadt Brothers), Franklin G. Weller, Henry S. Fifield, John Soule, and the Kilburn Brothers are just a few of the early photographers who photographed the Basin.
At the outlet of the Basin is a rock formation known as the Old Man’s Foot. It is supposed to resemble an old man’s foot. This rock formation can be seen in the above 1800s stereograph.
Located just above the Basin is the above cascade; the Basin is just out of view to the left. Old photographs refer to this cascade as Greenleaf Cascade (or Green Leaf Cascade). It was likely named for Charles H. Greenleaf, longtime proprietor of the Flume and Profile House properties. Franconia Notch was also called Greenleaf Park. Of interest is the rock profile in the background, to the right of the cascade, that resembles a shark's head.
In celebration of my latest book, Franconia Notch, which was published by Arcadia Publishing in May 2024, I will be writing about New Hampshire's fascinating Franconia Notch for the next month or longer. With the use of archival photographs (black and white), Franconia Notch explores the fascinating history of Franconia Notch during the mid-19th to late 20th century. Broken into six chapters, chapter one focuses on the early taverns and hotels that were once in the notch, and Chapter 6 focuses on the Flume Gorge; the in-between chapters cover the Old Man of the Mountain, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, and more.
For more information and to purchase copy of Franconia Notch, see the book section of my website here.
Happy image making..
© Erin Paul Donovan. All rights reserved | Historic Information Disclaimer | Franconia Notch History
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Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.