This event was one of Jessica Craig’s fantastic events. Jessica organizes several different first-person, immersion events such as Hopewell Furnace, Welbourne, and last year’s Top of the Mountain event. I had never been to New Hampshire so this was a doubly good time for me. The premise of the event was a hiking party at the Tiptop House 1861. The Tiptop House was built in 1853 as a hotel for travelers to the summit of Mt. Washington. The structure was restored in 1987 as part of the Mt. Washington State Historic Site.
We were not able to stay at the Tiptop House so we took over a bed and breakfast in Jefferson. We had the whole house and it was lovely!
My room was in the servants quarters but it was nice and quiet.
Friday night most of us went to dinner at Fabyans. The restaurant is in an old railroad depot.
Saturday
Saturday’s weather was less than perfect; cloudy and wet at the B&B and Mt. Washington was in the clouds all day with high winds and a constant mist from the clouds. However, this was not going to keep us from having a great time. Quite a few of us decided to take the Cog Railway to the top of Mt. Washington. The first rail car up to the summit was in 1869; so a little after the time we were interpreting, but it was a Cog Railway! It was really fun.
The train takes about 45 minutes to reach the summit, but we finally made it.
Mr. John Peterson made some wonderful pieces for us to feel in the time. Each of us received a guide book.
Meal tickets
Bill of fare for the Tiptop House
And he made ribbons for the gentlemen to celebrate the opening of the carriage (auto) road.
Mr. Peterson’s impression of Mr. Spalding, the Tiptop House proprietor, was a wonderful impression addition to the event and made us all feel we were really guests of the House.
We spent the majority of the morning visiting and doing handwork projects.
Some were brave enough to venture out to the summit.
We had a potluck lunch and everyone brought period foods that would have been served at the time. It was all so delicious and I really wished I didn’t have to wear that corset!
After lunch many of us went to the Visitor’s Center to see the museum. We also discovered the portrait of Lizzie Bourne, a young woman who died on the mountain in 1855. While the event in itself is tragic, we all decided her portrait was just a tad creepy.
The Visitor’s Center has a US Post Office where letters can be postmarked from the summit. Some of us returned to the Tip Top House to write letters to friends who could not join us for the weekend. 
The time up at the Tiptop House seemed to go by so quickly. It seemed we just got there and we were having to help load up the cars that braved the auto road. Visitor reaction was hilarious! Some were very excited and others acted like we weren’t even there. Back on the Cog Railway and down the mountain to the Jefferson Inn for dinner.
Saturday Night Dinner
Upon return to the Jefferson Inn, dinner preparations began.
Again we had our meal potluck, and again, so much good food.
Following dinner many of us sat in small groups and visited and then to our rooms early. Sunday we were traveling to a special location for breakfast.
Categories: Immersion Events, Living History
Tags: first person, Living History, Mt. Washington