Lake Placid: A Mountain Town With a Special History

When you think about Lake Placid, your first thought might be: Olympics! But this small town has a vibrant history that includes so much more!

The popularity of the Adirondack region as a destination soared in the late 1800s when the nation's most wealthy and influential citizens built their Adirondack Great Camps here. The social elite would "vacate" the stifling summer heat of northeast cities for the cool Adirondack air. Yes, this is the origin of the word – it's where vacations began.

Competitive sports stage

Lake Placid's winter sports history began with Melvil Dewey, who refused to listen to skeptics, extending the Lake Placid Club's season through the winter of 1904-05. By 1914, Dewey had garnered the support of the community as he succeeded in creating the country's first winter resort. Quickly successful, Lake Placid has been part of the competitive world sports stage since the 1920s and it's still going strong!

Lake Placid hosted both the 1932 and the 1980 Olympic Winter Games and still hosts world-class sporting events every year. The village and the surrounding area are rich in Olympic history. To learn more, be sure to visit the Lake Placid Olympic Museum downtown at the Olympic Center.

A vintage black and white image of people skating on a frozen lake.

Hotels, movie stars, and the First Lady of Radio

Over the years, Lake Placid has seen faces and buildings come and go but they all leave a special mark. From elaborate hotels to an actual opera house, Olympian Jack Shea to the American superstar singer Kate Smith, whose voice was known to everyone in the mid-20th century, all have their place in our history. This charming village has been mentioned in a Cary Grant movie as a great place to fall in love, made notorious in a more recent, croc-tastic film, and even seen movies filmed here, going as far back as 1926.

Today, you can learn about the people — famous and less so, but no less important — who have made Lake Placid distinctively fascinating at the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society Museum, which is housed in a former railroad depot.

An old postcard shows Lake Placid, NY's Main Street, complete with 1920s-era automobiles.

Lake Placid today

The area continues to beckon visitors year-round; to shop on the charming Main Street, to enjoy a variety of performance arts, and to sample area dining fare. As you stroll around Mirror Lake or travel farther afield, you'll find historic sites and treasures all around you. What are you waiting for? Let's explore!

A vintage black and white image of people skating on a frozen lake.
An old postcard shows Lake Placid, NY's Main Street, complete with 1920s-era automobiles.
A rustic, historic farmhouse sits alongside a calm pond on a sunny day.
The Legacy of John Brown

Explore the story of a legendary abolitionist who fought for an end to slavery, and his legacy in Lake Placid.

Learn more
A vintage, black and white image of the 1932 Lake Placid Olympic Arena
Past, Present, and Future

From its start as a winter sports destination, through two Olympic Winter Games, and onward to new heights, Lake Placid has a rich history!

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A line up of tickets from the 1980 Olympics
Lake Placid's Olympic History

Slide like a world-class luger through Lake Placid's amazing Olympic history.

Go for gold
an aerial view of Lake Placid's village, including the Olympic center and part of Mirror Lake.
Walking in the Past

A charming, pedestrian-friendly village, Lake Placid is ideal for a self-guided walking tour, exploring historic highlights and treasures.

Let's hit the pavement!

Results for "Explore Historic Lake Placid"

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Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society/Museum
242 Station Street, Lake Placid
(518) 523-1608

The Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society has operated The History Museum in the historic Lake Placid Railroad Station since 1967. The Museum reveals the rich and unique history of the Village of Lake Placid and the Town of North Elba. Exhibits in...

  
Lake Placid Olympic Museum
2634 Main Street, Lake Placid
(518) 302-5326

Explore the legacy of the Olympic Games with exciting exhibits, including video highlights, athletes' uniforms and equipment, a collection of Olympic torches, mascots, the first gold medal ever awarded, and more!

  
1980 Lake Placid - XIII Olympic Games
Main Street, Lake Placid
(518) 523-2445

The legacy of the 1980 Games has been preserved, and its heritage upheld here in Lake Placid, NY!

  
John Brown Farm State Historic Site
John Brown Road, Lake Placid
(518) 523-3900

Tour the last home and burial site of the famed abolitionist. The home provides a glimpse of life in the 19th century and shares fascinating information about Brown and his mission to abolish the practice of slavery.

  
1932 Lake Placid - III Olympic Games
Main Street, Lake Placid
(518) 523-2445

The year was 1932.

  
The Wild Center
45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake

Three years running, The Wild Center was named the People's Choice top attraction in the Adirondacks by the readers of Adirondack Life. To top it all off, The Wild Center's Wild Walk, a trail across the treetops, has opened to rave reviews. It's all...

  
Saranac Laboratory Museum and Gift Shop
89 Church St, Saranac Lake
(518) 891-4606
  
Fort Ticonderoga
102 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga
(518) 585-2821
  
Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake
9097 Route 30, Blue Mountain Lake
(518) 352-7311
  
Adirondack History Museum
7590 Court Street, Elizabethtown
(518) 873-6466
  

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