Tahawus and Upper Works Village Trek

Friday, September 29, 2023

On a remote dead-end road meandering toward the High Peaks stands an odd assortment of structures: an imposing stone tower, a stabilized 19th century house where Teddy Roosevelt once stayed, and the foundations of cottages, all on property now stewarded by the Open Space Institute. On this tour, discover a site that has experienced more than 150 years of mining, time as a sportsman’s club, decades as a ghost town, and is now a well-interpreted historic site. We will see the 1854 McIntyre Furnace, the remains of the village of Adirondac, and will talk about the Adirondack Iron and Steel Company operations of the mid-19th-century and the 20th-century titanium mining operation there. Our day will begin with a general overview of the area and the structures that are near the road. We will then venture into the surrounding forest, hiking to nearby sites to discuss their historic function and archaeological significance.

This tour will be led by NYS archeologist Dave Staley, NYS DEC Historic Preservation Officer Chuck Vandrei, Paul Hai, Associate Director at SUNY-ESF’s Adirondack Ecological Center, and Newcomb historian Don Seauvageau. The tour begins at 10 AM and ends around 3:30 PM.

The fee is $50 for members and $60 for non-members.

Please note that this tour involves some hiking and navigating uneven terrain.

TOUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION

More information on Tahawus: “Adirondac Ghost Town Awaits its Future”  and “Bidding Adieu to the Deserted Village, Part 1”, Part 2