The Adirondacks 1830-1930

How the Adirondack region was first "discovered," then explored and eventually maintained- all of which helped shape what it is today.

The East's greatest wilderness, the Adirondack region of New York State, shares its history and lore with Native Americans, early settlers, artists, writers, sportsmen, professors and others. The Adirondacks are known to outdoor lovers, skiers, and year-round visitors for their 46 high peaks, 100-mile canoe route, 133-mile Northville-to-Lake Placid Trail, 30,000 miles of mountain streams, and 3,000 lakes.

In addition to its finding, The Adirondacks: 1830-1930, shows how the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, which is the largest park in the contiguous United States and a patchwork of public and private lands governed by one of the largest regional zoning plans in the country, was preserved. With over 200 stunning photographs and fascinating tales of the region, it traces the development of the hamlets, the great camps, the guides, and the furniture and tanning businesses.

Donald R. Williams is a recognized expert on the Adirondacks, his home country. A retired educator, he is the author of five books on the subject and a licensed Adirondack guide. He has lectured extensively, served for twenty years as Adirondack editor for the New York Sportsman magazine, written for Adirondack Life magazine, and produced a weekly Adirondack column for four newspapers. This unique collection of images and text is a fitting tribute to this splendid wilderness.