From exploring the once war-torn shores of Lake Champlain – where a growing nation fought acre by acre for independence – to getting lost in the dazzling genius of old-world masters, the museums of the Adirondack Region showcase the breathtaking expanse of American and European history.
The history of the Adirondacks is as diverse as its geography. It has been a battleground through several wars, including the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, Civil War, and the War of 1812 which included a significant American victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh, the Adirondacks is the turf of loggers and miners, the vacation destination of Gilded Age magnates and home to two Winter Olympic Games. The depth and breadth of the region's heritage is only matched by its glorious scenery.
You'll find forts, museums, historic homes and "Great Camps," excursion railroads, and even sunken wrecks in the Adirondacks. Events ranging from Woodsmen's Field Days to the No-Octane Regatta to a French and Indian War Encampment bring history to life.
Venture to interpretive exhibits and groundbreaking events, attend gallery openings and workshops, discover priceless art collections, living ecosystems you can touch, and learn about the environmental contributions that shaped the Adirondack's "Forever Wild" legislation at one of the many celebrated Adirondack museums.
The Adirondack Experience - The Museum at Blue Mountain Lake is located at the geographic center of the Adirondack Park. With a campus spanning several acres, it is one of the largest museums in northern New York – and one of the most acclaimed. Likened to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., Adirondack Experience's open-air exhibits offer tangible connections to history, creating an interactive experience that explores each facet of the Park's past – from classic Adirondack furniture to environmental conservation efforts. Enjoy indoor and outdoor exhibits, workshops and annual festivals at this top attraction in the Adirondack Region.
The Wild Center, named the #1 science museum in the country by USA Today 2024 readers, is a family-friendly museum located in the Tupper Lake Region, providing a hands-on experience that explores the diverse ecosystems of the Adirondacks' forests, lakes, and rivers. Designed by the firm that built Washington's Air & Space Museum, The Wild Center is filled with hands-on experiences, live animals, including resident river otters, birds and reptiles, and exhibits that creatively explore the wild nature of the Adirondacks. Set on a 115-acre campus the Center offers canoe trips on its own river and hiking trails that wind through the Adirondack forest. Indoor and outdoor dining are offered and a full museum store is located on the grounds. A changing menu of exhibits and programs can be explored all year round.
Located in the Lake George Region, The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls was once the private residence of Charlotte Pruyn Hyde and her husband Louis Fiske Hyde, avid art collectors who wanted to share their treasures with the world. The Hyde Collection features the family's prized old-world masters, with artworks by Rembrandt, Rubens, Picasso, Renoir and Hassam on display throughout the house.
Wondering which other attractions to visit after a trip to the museum? Discover an array of restaurants, cafés, microbreweries, and wineries and check out family-friendly attractions such as the Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom and the Go! Children's World Awareness Museum complete with interactive exhibits from around the world.
The Adirondack Coast of Lake Champlain was an integral outpost during the American struggle for independence and self-governance. Overlooking Lake Champlain, Fort Ticonderoga offers dramatic and sweeping views of the lake, revealing its importance during the French & Indian and Revolutionary wars. Fort Ticonderoga's staff specializes in creating engaging and unique events such as nighttime weaponry displays and reenactments on the anniversaries of key battles. The is one of the most historic places within the Adirondack Park.
Explore the history of maple sugaring at the American Maple Museum and Hall of Fame in Croghan, located in the Adirondacks Tug Hill Region. From rustic taps to state-of-the-art equipment, discover the sweet, fascinating history of "liquid gold." Enjoy pancake breakfasts during annual New York Maple Weekends in the spring, or try your hand at tapping a maple tree.
Best known for his artwork depicting scenes from the American West, Canton native Frederic Remington's passion for the frontier can be seen in the extensive collection of paintings, illustrations and bronze sculptures on permanent display in the Adirondack Seaway Region. The Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg is home to a comprehensive assemblage of original artwork, featuring the artist's masterworks, magazine sketches and several bronze sculptures, which Remington began to create in 1895.
Celebrate the art and life of this famous Adirondack artist during the Frederic Remington Arts Festival is held each September in Canton. Enjoy activities such as carriage and wagon rides, live entertainment and historic town tours.
Slip into the early 1900s at the Alice T. Miner Museum in Chazy and experience the grandeur of colonial America. Alice and her husband William dedicated part of their fortune and much of their lives to the betterment of Chazy. Avid collectors, they turned their home into a museum, offering tours of the third-floor ballroom, colonial glassware collection, and the Lincoln room, which houses a library of books, documents, and letters relating to American Presidents and other famous Americans. Open year-round, the museum is a short drive from Montreal and Burlington, Vt.
Adirondack history echoes in the war cries of long ago at restored military forts, awakens curiosity at state-of-the-art children's museums, and inspires new artists, making a collective heritage. Stay at one of our many family-friendly lodging options and discover the secrets of the past and a glimpse into what the future holds.
Located on the southernmost shore of Lake George, Battlefield Park was the scene of major battles during the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War, and the home of Fort George, a key anchor of first British and then American military strategies in those world-changing conflicts. Enveloped by the natural beauty of the Adirondack Mountains in the town of Lake George, the site’s history reflects its prominence as part of the crucial Hudson River-Lake George-Lake Champlain corridor in the mid-to-late 18th Century.
The Visitor Center showcases exhibits and artifacts this extraordinary history showcasing the Lake George region’s critical role in the French and Indian and American Revolutionary Wars.
