Adirondack History Guide
Beyond the breathtaking vistas and exhilarating mountain air, the Adirondacks hold the key to a world of historical wonder. Around each corner visitors can discover hallowed battle grounds that witnessed fearless acts of heroism, explore museums that belie their rustic surroundings with impressive displays of Adirondack architecture, medicine and industry, escape to historic mansions and indulge in the comforts of elegant Victorian living.
The Adirondacks were originally claimed by two Indian nations, the Iroquois and the Algonquins. Neither group ever settled in the region, but the two nations fought over the Lake George - Lake Champlain water route through the Adirondacks. This route was the easiest one through the Adirondacks and was therefore a valuable resource.
Dating back to the 1700's the Adirondacks were a popular destination, with Lake George and Lake Champlain providing ideal conditions for settlements, and later for military posts. Opportunities abound to see examples of the evolution of Adirondack architecture, of both the real McCoy and reproduction varieties.
The last 250 years in the Adirondacks have produced a bounty of historic intrigue. Like the infinite hikes within the Park, the history here is accessible - walk the trails, ride the trains, and visit the places written about in textbooks and novels alike.
The
Adirondack Great Camps style of architecture was created by W.W. Durant in the late 1800's and appealed to America's well-to-do who sought comfort among nature.
After the Civil War, Americans had more wealth and economic power than ever before, and they began to
seek seculded destinations where they could relax and escape.
After great fires charred almost 1 million acres of Adirondack forest,
fire towers were built on mountain summits to help observers pinpoint fires in the distance.
Perhaps the most iconic piece of furniture in the region,
the Adirondack Chair actually begins with the Westport Chair, created by Thomas Lee.
Few people know that Theodore Roosevelt's presidency began with
a midnight ride from the Adirondacks to Buffalo after President McKinley's death.
The Adirondak Loj is located in the High Peaks Wilderness Area and features guest rooms, a dining room and kitchen, an Adirondack library, and more.
Camp Santanoni, one of the most distinguished of the Adirondack Great Camps, is located in Newcomb and is a popular site for visitors to explore.
In 1973, a 12-day manhunt took place for serial killer
Robert Garrow who alluded authorities in the Adirondacks.
Located in the northern portion of Newcomb in the Adirondacks is
Tahawus, which has fallen into a ghost town.
Henry Diamond helped renew the focus on the environment in the Adirondacks, and shaped the modern day DEC.
A series of battles in the 1940s, known as
The Black River Dam War, threatened the Adirondack Park's wildlife and waterways.
A little-known battle between a British flotilla and local militia took place in the Town of Willsboro during the War of 1812.
In 1814 during the War of 1812, the U.S. successfully defeated an invading British force at the
Battle of Plattsburgh.
The historic
North Creek Ski Bowl opened in 1934, and is still part of the area's year-round recreation scene today.
Gore Mountain opened in North Creek, NY, in 1964, and since then, it has transformed from a winter destination to a year-round attraction.
Since its early years as a small logging community,
North Creek has grown into one of the Adirondacks' premier four-season destinations.
In order to help would-be African American voters secure their suffrage rights, Gerrit Smith devised
a unique scheme.
Trapping dates back to our prehistoric ancestors, but grew very popular in the Adirondacks during the 16th century.
The Adirondack Region was the setting for key battles of Fort Ticonderoga and Fort William Henry during the
French & Indian War.
The Adirondacks were the site of America's first victory at Fort Ticonderoga and the turning point of the
Revolutionary War.
The Adirondack Northway - the stretch of I-87 between Albany and the Canadian border - was constructed in the 1950s and 60s to simplify travel in the region.
The construction of
trains allowed for tourists to travel to the Adirondacks, including in the winter on the "snow trains".
In the late 1800's, the region was seen as
a healing destination for those afflicted with maladies like tuberculosis.
In 1892, New York State designated the Adirondack Park as "
Forever Wild" proving its commitment to the region and its wildlife.
Read an overview of the
Victorian Era in the Adirondacks, which featured the development of Great Camps and Resort Hotels.
The Front Line in the Blue Line
The French and Indian War, also called the Seven Years' War, raged from the late 1750's into the early 1760's. This war was the single largest pre-Civil War land battle in American history. Fort Carillon, later called Fort Ticonderoga, the setting of this legendary battle, offers historical reenactments depicting with expert accuracy every detail of the battle, from uniforms and weapons to staging and military strategy.
In addition to Fort Ticonderoga, the Lake George Battlefield Park and Fort George State Park are great places for a walk, as these legendary locations have interpretive signage chronicling events like bloody battles and the race to cure smallpox that transpired on these grounds.
In September of 2005, Lake George commemorated the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lake George in 1765, an inconclusive battle that inspired early versions of the song "Yankee Doodle."
2007 celebrated the 250th anniversary of the 1767 surrender of Fort William Henry in Lake George and the resulting massacre that occurred when the British surrendered, but were attacked further by French and Indian forces.
February of 2013 marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which effectively ended the Seven Years' War, but forever changed the economic, political, and governmental relationships between America and the three European powers colonizing the newly discovered territory.
Fire Towers Photo Credit: Fire Tower Secured By Guidewires via photopin (license)
Tahawus Photo Credit: Another Collapsing Adirondac Village Building via photopin (license)
