Mt. Washington Auto Road Tour Pass

Mount Washington Auto Road Complimentary Pass is good for (1) Free Guided Tour (2 hours including a one hour stay on the Summit of Mt. Washington); OR (1) Free Drive Yourself Tour in your own vehicle with a group of your friends, during the 2019-2020 season.

The gala opening of the Mount Washington Auto Road to the summit took place on August 8, 1861, with many local dignitaries arriving at the summit in a Concord Coach. But, the honor of driving the first horse-drawn vehicle to the summit went to Col. Joseph Thompson, then proprietor of the Glen House. To be sure of beating out his friendly rival, Col. John Hitchcock, landlord of the Alpine House, Thompson drove his horse and carriage to the summit three weeks before the official opening. The last few yards were still so strewn with boulders that help was needed to keep the carriage upright, but he made it. And, he saw to it that a photographer was there.

The very first motorized ascent was by Freelan O. Stanley, of Stanley Steamer fame, in 1899. There were more steam-powered ascents during the next three years, and then in 1902, the first two gasoline-powered cars reached the summit.

Since then, except when gasoline shortages intervened, the history has been one of steady growth: 3,100 private cars in 1935, 6,600 in 1955 and 12,800 in the Road’s 100th anniversary year, 1961. In recent years, more than 45,000 vehicles have driven the Auto Road each year. 
 

• Name : Mount Washington Auto Road