Adirondack History

Syllabus

Differentiated Lesson Menu

Online Sources for Each Topic

Links of Interest

Ethnography and Oral History Guidelines


Course Topics:

I.                   “The Adirondacks are …”

Where is the Adirondack Park? How big is it? How many people live there? What do they do for a living? What are the major waterways and where are they located? What are the major mountain groups and where are they located? Where are the important towns in the Park? What are they like? How are the towns unique? What kinds of animal and plant life are found here? What is the Native American history in the Adirondacks before the Europeans?

II.                French, British, and Native Americans

What European powers claimed the various zones in the Adirondacks in the 17^th and 18^th century? How did they maintain control? What economic principles were at stake? What was the cause and extent of the French and Indian War in the Adirondacks? What were the major engagements of the war? What were the effects of the war for the Adirondacks? What happened in the Adirondacks during and immediately after the American war for Independence?

III.             Adirondack Guides

What sparked interest in the tourism in the Adirondacks in the early 19^th century? What was it like being a tourist then? Who were some of the most famous Adirondack Guides? What were they like?

IV.             Mining and Logging

When and where were the earliest mines established? What was involved in making profit from the mines or logging? What were the long and short term effects of mining and logging in the Adirondacks? When and where was logging an important part of the economy? Who were the important people in logging and mining?

V.                Establishing the “Blue Line”

Why were efforts made to create the Adirondack Park? What makes it unique in the world/USA? What were the competing interests in the Park and how did the conflicts play out in court and in the woods? Who were the important people in this?