Mount Eisenhower

Mount Eisenhower is a 4,780-foot mountain in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains. It lies in Coös County and is one of the southern Presidentials. Formerly known as Mount Pleasant, it was renamed to honor President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mount Eisenhower has a broad, dome-shaped summit that is mostly treeless, providing hikers with excellent 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Mount Eisenhower is one of the southern Presidential Range peaks, known for its broad, dome-shaped summit (largely treeless) with excellent 360-degree views. This mountain was originally named Mount Pleasant by the 1820 Weeks-Brackett exploration party. For many years it was referred to as Mount Pleasant, while other nearby peaks took on Presidents’ names. After President Dwight D. Eisenhower died in 1969, there was a movement to honor him in the White Mountains. In 1970 the U.S. Board on Geographic Names officially changed Mount Pleasant to Mount Eisenhower. The peak’s rounded summit and alpine environment have made it a favorite for hikers and campers; even before the renaming, it was popular as the last above-treeline stop on the Crawford Path heading north. A summit cairn and the remnants of an old shelter site can be found on top. Mount Eisenhower’s history is quieter than some of its neighbors – it lacks the railway or roads – but its name reflects the state’s pride in the only U.S. President (so far) to visit these peaks during his lifetime (Eisenhower took a trip up Mount Washington in 1955). Today’s hikers often note the contrast between the peak’s tranquil nature and the global significance of its namesake.