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The History of Lake George NY & The Southern Adirondacks
Located in the Adirondacks of Upstate NY,
Lake George is an area chock-full of history and culture. The
lake itself was an essential transportation passageway for Native
Americans. Because Lake George formed a gateway between Lake
Champlain and the Hudson River, it continued to be a vital form of transport during
the Colonial times. The Region also served an
important role in the French and Indian War as well as the
Revolutionary War.
In 1642, Father Isaac Joques and two others were the first
white men to catch a glimpse of the stunning lake. Joques was
attacked by the Mohawks, but managed to escape and returned to
France. Four years later, Father Isaac returned to the area in hopes
of signing a peace treaty with the Iroquois. On the festival of
Corpus Christi, Joques named the lake “Lac du Saint Sacrement”.
In 1755, in hopes of getting rid of French Rights in America, an
expedition against the French was planned in the Lake George
Region. Major General William Johnson moved his force of 2,200
colonial troops and 300 Native American Indians from Albany
towards Fort Edward, and onto Lac du Saint Sacrement. They
settled at the head of the Lake and, in honor of King George II, renamed it Lake George. On this day, three battles were fought:
the Battle of Lake George, Battle at Bloody Pond and Bloody
Morning Scout. The last of these battles was one that
Colonel Williams figured prominently in.
The village surrounding Lake George remained a prime route for
the British and French Colonies during the Colonial era. The
area also continued to be the site of
battles fought during this period of history.
Due to the stunning beauty of the lake and surrounding Adirondack Mountains,
coupled with its close proximity to big cities like New York
City and Boston, Lake George grew to become a popular tourist
destination during the late 19th Century. Railroad tracks made
it easy for tourists to flock to the area and steam boats were
used as a convenient means for people to get to
Lake George Hotels and other lodging establishments.
In 1903, the Village of Lake George was incorporated. Fort
William Henry, which was originally burned during the French and
Indian War, was reconstructed and can be found in the
Village. Today, it operates as a museum and remains a popular
tourist attraction in Lake George. Other historic sites,
monuments and markers can be found throughout the region to
commemorate the historic events that took place in Lake George
generations ago. |
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