This summer, the Chapman Museum proudly presents Chapman Yearbook: 60 Years of Collecting in celebration of its 60th anniversary. This special exhibition highlights six decades of preserving, interpreting, and sharing the rich stories of the Glens Falls–Queensbury community and the greater southern Adirondack region. Framed through the lens of a classic high school yearbook, this exhibition invites visitors to explore selected artifacts from the Museum’s collection of more than 32,000 objects, photographs, and archival records. Each item is rooted in the everyday life, industry, culture, and heritage of our region.
The exhibition opens with a brief history of the Museum itself, beginning on October 29, 1965, when the initial charter for the Glens Falls Historical Association was signed. From that moment, what is now the Chapman Museum began its journey. Over the past six decades, the museum has grown not just in size, but in mission and impact — engaging thousands of visitors, researchers, and students with our regional history.
The heart of The Chapman Yearbook exhibition is its imaginative structure: artifacts are organized into classic yearbook superlative categories that offer both historical insight and a bit of fun. Categories include: Most Likely to Succeed – featuring inventions, influential documents, and iconic household items that left a lasting legacy; Best Dressed – showcasing garments and fashion accessories that reflect changing styles through the decades; Most Changed Since Freshman Year – highlighting the evolution of everyday tools and technologies; Most Community Spirit – celebrating local pride through business memorabilia, event banners, and shared traditions; and Most Artistic – a spotlight on beautiful, skillfully crafted items including paintings, sculpture, and decorative objects.
A short documentary film will take you through the history of the organization and the people, events, and objects that tell the story of our communities. To enhance the experience, visitors can also interact with the exhibition using a touch-screen voting system—casting their vote for their favorite artifacts in each category. We invite you to join us in this celebration of legacy, learning, and local pride. Whether you’ve been visiting the Chapman Museum for decades or this will be your first time, the Chapman Yearbook is a reminder of how history connects us all.