A Must-See Attraction In The Adirondack Park
Story and Photos By Theresa st. John
Believe it or not, this past September was my first time visiting the Adirondack Experience - The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake. Now I wonder what took me so long to make my way there, and when can I go again?
It’s not like it’s far away – just a beautiful, leisurely 60 miles from Saratoga.
The town itself was busy with some sort of antiquing weekend; people were happily moving from one vendor to the next. Me? I was thrilled to find a parking space in front of the main building once I made my way through traffic.
I fell in love with the Adirondacks years ago and was pleased to discover how important the history and culture of people who lived and worked here were highlighted all around the museum, outside on the grounds, and inside each building.
When I spoke with Laura Rice, Chief Curator responsible for the Adirondack Experience's numerous collections, she shared how it offers more than 40,000 square feet of displays and exhibitions for visitors' enjoyment. “There are over 30,000 objects, 70,000 photographs, hands-on workshops, interactive exhibits, and our Lake View Café, where we offer the freshest foods and breathtaking views overlooking Blue Mountain Lake – you can easily spend an entire day here.”
One of the first things I saw, which impressed me, was a short video about the Adirondack Park and what it means to the people who live here -or visit for a day! I sat on a long wooden bench with a few other people and listened to mothers, fathers, singles, and couples share their impressions of the mountains, lakes, and grandeur of nature with us. Their stories and love for this beautiful area of New York made me feel connected to them in the most basic way: appreciating and even worshiping the outdoors.
Many families were visiting when I was there. Some were coming back from hiking along the trails at the museum. It was a warm day, so most had sweatshirts tied around their waist as they’d worked up a sweat, either on the trail leading to the hidden Minnow Pond or somewhere along the more vigorous loop, which offered up views of Blue Mountain Lake.
The gardens were still in full bloom, and children were leaning in to sniff the fragrant blossoms. I took several photos, hoping to identify some flowers I didn’t recognize later once I was home.
“Artists & Inspiration in the Wild” opened in July of 2023 and is their newest permanent exhibit. This collection highlights over 250 items focusing on Adirondack art in a dedicated space. “Many of the pieces have been in storage for 60 years,” Laura stated. I shook my head in awe. “But each of these artists took their inspiration from the Adirondacks we all love so much.” The four galleries cover light, forests, water, and mountains – all sparking the creative nature of all types of art. They include photography, watercolor, woodcarvings, skies, snowshoes, ceramics, beautiful wood furniture, oil on canvas, fine art paintings, and more.
Exploring one of the other buildings was so much fun. I listened to a young boy and girl calling to their parents – “Look at this old carriage! Oh my gosh, what a big car! Can we go inside the train, Mom?” They definitely weren’t bored wandering around the museum. And neither was I. In fact, I will have to head back in order to see every one of the 24 galleries and historic buildings that dot this 121-acre attraction.
Some galleries taught about the Native American people of the Adirondacks; other galleries spoke to the ‘why’ of folks who made their way to the area and then called it home. There was an exhibit where you could jump into a boat and learn how to row, an exhibit where you could go into a mineshaft and blow up a wall, and another exhibit where you could interact with a digital log jam – let me tell you, I couldn’t stay on top of the log for long!
The Blue Mountain House, a resort hotel that existed on the property from 1876 to 1950, still has a small part remaining – a structure known as The Log Hotel. There was an outhouse I could view, a beautiful building named Sunset Cottage, what looked like a hunter’s cottage, an old one-room schoolhouse, and so much more that piqued my interest.
One thing I always look for when I travel is signs of accessibility. I have friends in wheelchairs, and I want them to be able to visit as well. That’s the whole idea, right? I tell you about a fantastic place, and you want to plan to go yourself. I can happily tell you that it seemed very accessible. There are wheelchairs and scooters available to rent, and all of the main buildings and café areas are wheelchair friendly. There was plenty of room for strollers as well, so bring the kids – the fresh mountain air is lovely!
Speaking of fresh mountain air, I brought a book with me that day and sat near this little pond in a comfortable Adirondack chair for about a half hour before I bought a few trinkets from the museum store and walked to my car to head home. It seemed I had a new appreciation for the Adirondacks and the strength of people who lived and worked through hardships here in the mountains. My heart was full as I drove away, and I couldn’t wait to return for more of this truly unique experience.
