The Adirondack Park was created in 1882 by the NY State Legislature and includes 6 million acres of public and private land.  The Park is part of the Canadian Shield which are relative young mountains born as a result of uplift, followed by etching and carving by glaciers over 10,000 years ago.  The mountains continue to grow at a rate of 1.5 millimeters annually!  The Adirondacks is home to over 130,000 New Yorkers with 105 towns and villages.  It is the most unusual park in the US with its special untouched forest, thousands of ponds and lakes, wilderness trails and spectacular mountains!  The Adirondacks were originally claimed by two Indian nations, the Iroquois and the Algonquins.  The name “Adirondack” is still challenged today; but some say it is an authentic Indian word used by the Iroquois who referred to the Algonquins who were forced to live of tree buds and bark during hard winters.    Other historians say is was derived from a tribe of the St. Lawrence back in the 1500’s and meant “They off the Great Rocks.” 

Trees or rocks, come visit for yourself.  You are sure to have a wonderful time! 

We love our rich heritage and thought you might enjoy the roots of our Adirondack Park too. President Cleveland, McKinley, Harrison, Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt traveled once upon a time to the Adirondacks; as well as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain and Albert Einstein.   Throughout history, the Adirondack wilderness has been explored.  We invite you to explore today.  Below are some town's history that has been recorded by some fine groups.  We invite our public to make their own contributions, and add to our list of unique Adirondack towns (past and present).  Please contact us to contribute ().