Heritage Tour

Adirondack Architectural Tour
Exploring the Adirondacks:
AN ARCHITECTURAL TOUR OF A GREAT RUSTIC TRADITION
COMING IN SEPTEMBER 2010

The vast and diverse system of "forever wild" state-owned lands in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York is known collectively as the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The creation of the Forest Preserve in 1885 was one of the earliest acts of large-scale public land protection in the nation, and was one of the first chapters in the history of conservation in the United States. By 1885, however, settlements throughout the Adirondacks had already emerged as a result of the early industries of lumbering, tanning, mining, and tourism. As a result, the built environment of the Adirondacks became as vast and diverse as the natural environment.

Resort architecture in the Adirondacks possesses distinctive architectural characteristics that have become closely associated with a regional rustic style. The phenomenon most identified is the "camp," a loosely used term denoting a single-family residential compound as well as a recreational center for an organized group. "Camp" in the Adirondacks has been used much like "cottage" in Newport: a term of understatement, referring to a grand residence. However, ever since the term began to be applied to summer residences over a century ago, "camp" has meant anything its owners choose to so name.

Numerous camps possess a feature that separates them from most other forms of residential building in the United States-they are comprised of several buildings, divided more or less according to function. The archetypal configuration on an ambitious scale is to have one building devoted to gathering places for family and guests, sometimes called a lodge or hall; another for meals, cooking, and storage; a third for family quarters; others for guest quarters; recreational use; and others to house service functions and staff. The buildings are typically designed and decorated using a variety of native, rustic materials such as stone, logs, bark, wood shingles, and other wooden ornament so that the buildings seem to grow out of their forested landscape. This approach to design and site planning had aesthetic appeal because it allowed a complex to impart casualness in its layout and to have its components at a scale that seemed natural and in harmony with the environs. Perhaps more importantly, if fire occurred in one space, separation improved the chances that others would survive.

The Itinerary for the week will include visits to such places as:

Adirondack Museum - A lecture will be given by museum curators pertaining to the rustic tradition in the Adirondacks. Visit the museum's exhibits, including those on outdoor recreation, transportation, fine arts, work, industry, tourism, and community life in the Adirondacks.

Camp Sagamore - Enjoy a guided tour of Sagamore by the staff of this National Historic Landmark that is comprised of twenty-seven buildings, including an outdoor bowling alley. It was once the summer residence of the Vanderbilt family.

Camp Uncas - Visit this privately owned rustic camp that has recently been listed as a National Historic Landmark. Opened exclusively for this tour, Camp Uncas was once the summer residence of J. Pierpont Morgan.

Big Moose Lake - Explore the distinctive vertical half-log constructed architecture on Big Moose Lake, exemplified in private homes, churches, and businesses.

Pine Knot - Travel by boat to Long Point on Raquette Lake to this great camp once owned by Collis P. Huntington, one of the leading railroad men of the nineteenth century. You will have a guided tour of this National Historic Landmark owned by the State University of New York College at Cortland, Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education since 1949.

St. Williams on Long Point - Built in 1890 to meet the needs of Catholic workers building nearby Camp Pine Knot, St. William's is located on the opposite side of the Long Point peninsula on Raquette Lake, and involves a one mile walk through the woods from Pine Knot to access. You will be given a guided tour of the church, and witness its restoration, which is still in progress.

W.W. Durant cruise on Raquette Lake - After visiting Pine Knot and St. William's enjoy an afternoon lunch and narrated two hour cruise on Raquette Lake.

Tupper Lake - Visit Hemlock Ledge, built in 1906-1907 for Harry Levy, a Cincinnati, Ohio distiller, and his wife Jeannette. You will be guided by AARCH staff as we look at this privately owned camp, opened exclusively for this tour.

Beth Joseph Synagogue - Beth Joseph Synagogue is the only surviving early synagogue in the region. Enjoy a guided tour and learn about the history of the early Jewish settlers in the region.

White Pine Camp - White Pine Camp served as President Calvin Coolidge's 1926 Summer White House, and is comprised of several buildings including a main living hall, owner's cabin, guest cabins, dining room, boathouse, a lakeside teahouse, and bowling alley. You will be guided through this privately owned camp by a local expert, learn its history, view the various buildings, and visit the newly restored Alpine Garden, one of the earliest works of horticulturist Fred Heutte.

Eagle Island - Designed by William L. Coulter, the first resident architect to establish a practice in the Adirondack region, Eagle Island (1903) was built for Levi Parson Morton, Vice President of the United States under President Benjamin Harrison. You will learn the history of this National Historic Landmark, and the significance of Coulter as a regional architect, from a local historian and Coulter expert.

Camp Santanoni - Located just south of the Adirondack High Peaks, Camp Santanoni, a National Historic Landmark, was designed by Robert H. Robertson, and completed between 1892 - 1893. Guided by AARCH staff, learn the history of this 12,900 acre preserve that includes such buildings as the Gate House complex, the Farm Complex, a Sears and Roebuck catalogue home, and the Main Camp. Access into the site is either by foot or horsedrawn wagon along a gently sloping carriage road for a 9.8 mile round trip.

Piseco Lake - Explore private camps that were designed in the early twentieth century, in the rustic style, and opened exclusively for this tour. Led by local experts, learn of the early industrial and tourism history of the Piseco Lake region, and its camp architecture.

Departure - you will be driven to Albany International Airport for your departing flight.

Registration
For registration information please contact the Adirondack Architectural Heritage office at susan@aarch.org