The first weather observations on Mount Washington were conducted by the 
U.S. Signal Service from 1870 to 1892, the first of its kind in the world. 

The Mount Washington Observatory re-occupied the summit in 1932,
and has since been in continuous operation.

On April 12, 1934, a wind gust of 231 miles-per-hour was recorded atop 
the mountain, before the recording equipment was blown away,
setting a world record. 

Thru the years the Observatory not only served the "weather" community
but it was also a test lab for many companies,  During the "war years" clients
 included General Electric, Northwest Airlines and Good Year Rubber.

The Mount Washington Observatory is a non-profit membership organization 
and is not part of any government agency.

On July 3, 1869, "Old Peppersass" became the first cog-driven train 
to climb 6,288-foot Mt. Washington.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway was the first mountain climbing 
railway in the world, and is the only one still operating. 

The train runs entirely on coal-fired steam. 
Each trip to the summit uses one ton of coal and 1,000 gallons of water.