Lake George History

Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled along the shore of the clear blue waters of Lake George, our village, proudly takes its name.

Originally named Caldwell by its founder, James Caldwell, Lake George Village was first settled in 1810.

Tourists began arriving about this time, lodging at a log tavern owned by James Caldwell and located on land that is now Shepard Park. Among the earliest tourists were George Washington in the summer of 1783, Thomas Jefferson in 1791 and Arron Burr who was seen walking the main street on a trip to the Post Office in the early 1800’s.

Stage coaches made regular runs to Lake George Village by 1825. Connections could be made by travelers so that they could stay in the ever increasing elegant Lake George Village hotels or proceed further up the lake by steam boat.

In 1882 the Delaware and Hudson railway extended its line from Fort Edward so that tourists could board a train in New York City and be in the rugged beauty of Lake George Village the same day.

After the Civil War, in the Victorian age, many storied, elegant hotels were built to accommodate the ever increasing number of tourists whose every need was satisfied.

By 1896 many hotels and guest cottages in Lake George Village were advertising that their establishments were family oriented resorts at the rate of $7 to $10 per week.

The introduction of the automobile and later the bus lines made the beauties of the lake and mountains more available to all and it remains that way today.