An inscription near the site of this landmark quotes Daniel Webster: God “has hung out a sign to show that there he makes men”
The Final Jeopardy clue for Tuesday, October 20, 2026, appeared in the category “Natural Wonders” and read: “An inscription near the site of this landmark quotes Daniel Webster: God “has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men”.” The quote points to one of New Hampshire’s most famous former natural landmarks, a granite profile that once resembled the face of an elderly man. The correct response is the Old Man of the Mountain.
What Was the Old Man of the Mountain?
The correct response is the Old Man of the Mountain, a natural rock formation on Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch.
When viewed from the correct angle, a group of granite ledges created the unmistakable profile of a human face. For generations, the formation was one of New Hampshire’s most recognizable symbols.
The Daniel Webster Quote
The wording in the Final Jeopardy clue comes from a famous quotation traditionally attributed to Daniel Webster, the 19th-century statesman who was born in New Hampshire.
Webster compared the mountain profile with the signs displayed by tradespeople. Just as a shoemaker might display a giant shoe or a jeweler a large watch, he said that in New Hampshire’s mountains, God “has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.”
Why the Rock Looked Like a Face
The Old Man was not carved by people. Its appearance resulted from the natural positioning of several granite ledges along the side of Cannon Mountain.
From certain vantage points in Franconia Notch, those separate formations aligned visually to resemble a forehead, nose, lips and chin. From other angles, the human profile disappeared.
A Symbol of New Hampshire
The Old Man of the Mountain became much more than a tourist attraction. Its image appeared on state highway signs, license plates and other official symbols.
It was also featured on the New Hampshire state quarter, helping make the profile familiar to people far beyond the White Mountains.
The Landmark Collapsed in 2003
After centuries of exposure to freezing temperatures, thawing, water and erosion, the granite formation became increasingly unstable.
Despite extensive efforts to preserve it, the Old Man collapsed during the night of May 2-3, 2003. By the following morning, the famous facial profile had vanished from Cannon Mountain.
Remembering the Old Man Today
The loss of the formation prompted a major effort to preserve its memory. Visitors can now go to Profile Plaza at Franconia Notch State Park, near the former viewing area.
A series of specially designed steel profilers allows visitors standing at the correct position to recreate the appearance of the Old Man against the mountainside.
Its Connection to Literature
The rock formation also inspired literary attention. Nathaniel Hawthorne used it as the basis for his 1850 short story The Great Stone Face.
In Hawthorne’s story, residents of a valley believe that a great person will someday appear whose face resembles the enormous stone profile overlooking their community.
Why the Old Man of the Mountain Is the Correct Answer
The Daniel Webster quotation is strongly associated with the Old Man of the Mountain and with New Hampshire’s sense of identity.
That makes the Old Man of the Mountain the correct Final Jeopardy response: the once-famous granite face of Franconia Notch whose memory is preserved today through memorials and inscriptions near the site.