~A B O U T L A K E G E O R G E~
Diamond Cove Cottages welcomes you to the Adirondack Mountain Region. Lake George, NY is a family vacation destination that is the most beautiful and majestic natural spring fed lakes in the entire northeast. Located just a few hours from New York City and about three hours south of Montreal, Canada you will find a region that is not only rich in history but a place you and your family can begin to build vacation memories that will last a lifetime.
Lake George is known as “The Queen of the American Lakes.” The 32 mile long fresh water lake, which is fed by massive underground springs, includes 109 miles of shoreline, about 300 islands, and spans an approximate 44 square miles. The lake, 320 feet above sea level varies in depth from 1 foot to 195 feet and in width from one to three miles. Visitors are astonished to learn that the mouth of the lake is located at Lake George Village and that the outlet is to the north at Ticonderoga. Lake George is in fact, 210 feet higher by sea level than Lake Champlain situated further north in the Adirondacks. This is a natural wonder, since the water from Lake George empties through Ticonderoga Creek into Lake Champlain at a total fall which surpasses that of Niagara Falls.
Lake George, N.Y. and the Adirondack area had an important role in famous battles of the French and Indian Wars as well as the American Revolution, but prior to that it was an important artery of travel for the American Indian. For them, it formed the connecting link in the main water route between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain.
In August of 1642, Father Isaac Joques and two others, paddled over Lake George and were the first white men to set eyes on its beauty. They were attacked and captured by the Mohawks but Father Joques escaped and returned home to France. In 1646 he was sent by the French Governor on a political embassy to the Iroquois in relation to a treaty of peace. He reached the foot of Lake George on the Festival of Corpus Christi and renamed the lake “Lac du Saint Sacrement.” Father Joques died a martyr at the hands of the Mohawks. A statue was erected and dedicated to him in July of 1939 and may be seen at Battleground Park.
Along Lake George’s shores were made military decisions which had a far reaching effect on our country’s early history. In 1755, an expedition against the French was planned to extinguish French rights in America. Albany was selected as the rendezvous and troops from all the colonies gathered there. Major General William Johnson advanced from Albany from Albany to Fort Edward to Lake Saint Sacrement with a force of 2200 colonial troops and 300 Indians, encamped at the head of the lake and rechristened it Lake George, in honor of King George II. It was at this time that the Battle of Lake George took place with its three engagements: Bloody Morning Scout, Battle at Lake George and Battle at Bloody Pond. There is a monument in the Battleground Park of General William Johnson and King Hendrick of the Mohawks commemorating this battle.
Following the battle of Lake George, General Johnson hurried to strengthen defenses at the head of Lake George. He erected a fort which he named Fort William Henry in honor of Prince William Henry, grandson of King George II. In 1757 the first real attempt was made by the French against this fortress. In August of that year a large force of French and Indians, led by Marquis de Montcalm, secured the surrender of the fort after a six day siege. The defenders were promised safe convoy to Fort Edward; however a bloody massacre ensued sparked by the long history of war between the American Indian tribes involved. The fort was then torn down and the logs set on fire. This campaign was used by James Fenimore Cooper as the background for his famous novel, “The Last of the Mohicans.” The fort was reconstructed and opened to the public as a museum in 1953.
Battles in this area continued during the French and Indian Wars and were followed by a short piece. Ill-feelings between the colonists and the British continued to mount and the war for American Independence finally began on April 9, 1775. One month later Fort Ticonderoga was seized from the English by Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys, “In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.” The fort fell without a loss of a single life and was the first American victory during the Revolution. In November, General George Washington sent General Henry Knox to bring cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. They were dragged to Fort George by scow and then over the snow by sled to Boston. Today there are markers at six mile intervals tracing the route which General Knox followed that winter. Fort Ticonderoga was restored by the Pell family and is now open to the public.
At one time, Lake George was one of the nation’s first elite tourist destinations. Conveniently situated on the rail line halfway between New York City and Montreal, the lake became a magnet for the era’s rich and famous by the late 19 th and early 20 th century.
Tourists from all over North America and Europe flocked to Lake George and the surrounding majestic Adirondack Mountains. By the turn of the 19 th century, Lake George was equaled only by Newport, Bar Harbor, Maine, Saratoga and the Hamptons as a summer enclave for America’s aristocracy. Members of the Roosevelt, van Rensselear, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and Whitney families visited its shores.
Today Lake George is still one of the leading vacation travel destinations in America. Many families spend there vacations right here at Lake George Diamond Cove Cottages where memories are created and cherished for a lifetime. Diamond Cove Cottages and our friendly staff is 100% committed in making your Lake George family vacation experience the best there is to offer. So call today 518-668-3161 and start planning your Lake George Vacation today.