Lake George New York

LAKE GEORGE

By the late 1860's, improved methods of travel allowed more and more people to escape the heat of the city and enjoy the cooling environs of the Adirondacks and the pleasures of Lake George. Travel to the lake followed an arduous schedule of train, stage coach, and, often, steamer. Trips were slow, dusty, and hectic, but vacationers typically stayed for the whole summer season.

For those who chose to "rough it" at a hotel, rather than in a tent or cottage, Lake George boasted accommodations from modest to grand. Grand hotels like the Sagamore and Fort William Henry served as centers for entertainment, hosting an array of amusing activities that were open to cottage dwellers and campers alike.

Wholesome activities such as fishing, hiking, croquet, lawn tennis or riding the newly invented contraption known as a bicycle featured prominently in a vacation at the lake. Hotels offered a variety of healthful sports, as well as a range of less physically demanding activities such as billiards, card games, apple picking, hops and hayrides.


Tug-Of-War, Crosbyside, 1880 1977.218.4019	Horicon Sketching Club, 1882 1977.218.1514
Trout Pavilion, ca. 1880 1977.218.1612	The hotel began as a hunter's cabin and was later enlarged by John Phelps. From 1862 to 1947 the Cronkite family owned the hotel. After World War II it changed hands several times before burning in 1973.

"Lake George is a strange lull of excitement after Saratoga. Its tranquility is like the morning after a ball. There is nothing to do but to bowl or sit upon the piazza, or to go fishing upon the Lake."--George Williams Curtis, Lotus-Eating: A Summer Book, 1874	Piazza at Fort William Henry Hotel View from the West, ca. 1880 1977.218.3648

At Lake George, 1879 1977.218.1036	"...there are those who frequent the piazzas, read novels, loll in hammocks all day long..." Lake George Mirror, July 22, 1893

"Lake George is conveniently situated near the Fort William Henry Hotel..."--Stoddard, Lake George Illustrated, 1872	Fort William Henry Hotel from Caldwall, ca. 1880 1977.218.3571

Hulett's Landing Showing Summer House and Reflecting Pool, ca. 1880 1977.218.1374	"A lovely beach fronts the house [Hulett's]...The house is a base of supplies for parties camping out on the islands nearby, and this retired little nook rejoices in the name of the "Bosom," whose sweet depths have from time immemorable been sought for milk and other luxuries not generally found in camp.--Stoddard, Lake George (Illustrated) A Book of To-day, 1874

"Black Mountain is again taking its position as chief of the mountains, sloping from its clearly cut crest off toward the south. At its north end is The Elephant. See his well-formed head toward the west. His eye, and that rift in the mountainside is the outline of his massive jaw. The wrinkled neck and great rounded back are there,...You must call on your imagination to supply the trunk, for he came before the lake was such a fashionable watering place as at present, and not feeling the need of a change of raiment left his trunk behind." -- Stoddard, Lake George (Illustrated) A Book of Today, 1874	View of Black Mountain, c. 1873 1977.218.4136

Northern Outlook, A Camp Site, ca. 1880-1885 1977.218.1428	Stoddard provided the following recommendations for a well-equipped camp in The Adirondacks Illustrated, 1874, listing, "Pint tin cups, tin plates, spoons, knives and forks, two long handle frying-pans, tin basins, two tin pails, holding from three to six quarts each, to be used for tea, coffee, etc."

"The grounds around the Lake View are pleasant, and the effort has been quite successfully made of leaving nature's perfect work untouched while relieving it of unsightly objects, and making all parts trim and accessible. There are detached buildings here for bowling and billiards, open space for croquet and tennis, retired walks, cozy seats and pleasant outlooks."--Stoddard, Lake George Illustrated, 1892	Lake View House, Bolton, 1889 1977.218.5560
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