July 08, 2014

Two years ago I had what I believed was the bright idea that Lake Placid needed an historic walking tour map. Little did I know that I would be the designer or that it would be so well received! At the time I was a trustee on the Lake Placid North Elba Historical Society board of directors. I have since left the board due to time limitations, but I wanted to see the project through to completion so I stayed on task until publication in May of this year.  It’s been an incredibly rewarding and enlightening project. I learned a great deal about Lake Placid’s history in the process and have a renewed interest in historic buildings.  

Main Street view
Main Street and Hillcrest view from Signal Hill circa 1886 - photo courtesy Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society

Researching for the walking tour was lots of fun and I got to look at scads of historic photos while also learning about the histories of a number of local buildings. We would eventually have to sort through all the information and select a fraction of them for the map.

The Tour Begins

The tour aptly begins at the Lake Placid History Museum, located in the former New York Central train terminal on Station Street. It continues up and down the hilly terrain of the village, covering approximately four miles and a total elevation change of around 210 feet.  The map is divided into four sections which are color coded. The sections are Lower Main Street, Upper Main Street, Hillcrest/Signal Hill and Lake Placid Club/Parkside Drive.  

Lake Placid saw its first settlers in the early part of the 1800’s, but the Village wasn’t incorporated until 1900. The very first settlement was not even close to the current village, but about 4 miles away, near the intersection of Adirondack Loj Road and Route 73. In the near future, the Historical Society plans a cycling tour to encompass a much wider area of historic buildings and places. At present, however, the walking tour maps only a small portion of the village.  

Grand View Hotel
Grand View Hotel. Can you identify what stands currently on this property? Photo courtesy Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society

The Tour Details

The Historic Walking Tour map covers brief histories of nearly 40 buildings around the village, many with historic images.  From the origins of Lake Placid in “Newman” to the top of Signal Hill on the other side of the village, you’ll learn about some of our more prominent buildings during the course of the walking tour. You’ll also learn about some of our earliest businesses, some of which survived tragic fires and some of which are closely connected to two Olympic Winter Games.  You’ll also find out about:

  • a church that was moved, stone by stone, to its new location nearly 3/4 of a mile away
  • the oldest business in Lake Placid, still operated by the same family
  • the only public school in New York State to hold a liquor license
  • massive hotels of a by-gone era
  • an exclusive former club which was at one time the largest land-holder in the Town of North Elba
  • the first Catholic church which is now a bar
Lake Placid street scape circa 1920
Lake Placid street scape circa 1920. Do you know which businesses currently occupy the building in the foreground right? - Photo courtesy Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society

Of course a walking tour map cannot possibly cover Lake Placid's complete history. There are many books and reference materials at hand for the history buff in search of more than this very small sampling of historic buildings on the tour.  The Lake Placid History Museum and the Lake Placid Public Library both have a multitude of reference materials available for research purposes. 

Combine the Tour

There are lots of diversions along the route of the tour. You can stop to shop on Main Street, or take a break for lunch or a cocktail in one of the historic buildings along the way. If you only want to do part of the tour that's an option as well. Don't forget to take in all the sights as you stroll through the main streets and pretty side avenues you'll encounter during your tour. 

An aerial view of Lake Placid Village from the early 1900's
An aerial view of Lake Placid Village from the early 1900's

Where to get the Lake Placid Historic Walking Tour Map

You can pick up the Lake Placid Historical Society’s Walking Tour Map at the Lake Placid History Museum in the Train Depot at 242 Station Street, the Lake Placid Visitors Bureau at 2608 Main Street, and several other locations around the village.  Pick one up and take the tour around our beautiful and interesting village. 

Lake Placid has a few historic inns and lodges, so plan to stay a night or three and really immerse yourself in our historic and beautiful region.

Main Street view
Main Street and Hillcrest view from Signal Hill circa 1886 - photo courtesy Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society
Grand View Hotel
Grand View Hotel. Can you identify what stands currently on this property? Photo courtesy Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society
Lake Placid street scape circa 1920
Lake Placid street scape circa 1920. Do you know which businesses currently occupy the building in the foreground right? - Photo courtesy Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society
An aerial view of Lake Placid Village from the early 1900's
An aerial view of Lake Placid Village from the early 1900's

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