Great Camp Sagamore facts for kids
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Sagamore Lodge
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Great Camp Sagamore, Raquette Lake, New York
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| Nearest city | Raquette Lake, New York |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | William West Durant |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001221 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 16, 2000 |
Great Camp Sagamore is one of several historic "Great Camps" located in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State. These special places were once fancy vacation homes for some of America's wealthiest families.
Contents
History of Great Camp Sagamore
Great Camp Sagamore was built by a man named William West Durant between 1895 and 1897. It sits right on Sagamore Lake. Before Sagamore, Durant also built two other famous camps: Camp Pine Knot and Camp Uncas. All three of these amazing camps are still used today!
The camp is actually made up of two main areas, about half a mile apart. There's the "Upper Complex" for the workers and the "Lower Complex" for the guests. The buildings in the Upper Complex were more practical. The guest area, however, was designed for fun and relaxation. Rich families came here to enjoy nature without giving up their comfortable lifestyles.
Alfred Vanderbilt's Improvements
In 1901, William Durant had to sell Sagamore. This was because of money problems. A wealthy man named Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt bought the camp. He made many improvements to Sagamore.
Vanderbilt added modern features like:
- Flushing toilets
- A sewer system
- Hot and cold running water
He also built a special power plant that used water to make electricity. One really cool addition was an outdoor bowling alley! It even had a clever system to bring the bowling balls back. Other fun things he added were a tennis court and a croquet lawn.
Sagamore's Later Years
Alfred Vanderbilt sadly died in 1915. He was on the ship Lusitania when it sank. He left Sagamore to his wife, Margaret Emerson. She loved sports and continued to use the camp for many years.
Later, Mrs. Emerson gave the property to Syracuse University. The university used it as a conference center. Then, the State of New York wanted to buy it. However, there was a problem. New York State has a "Forever Wild" rule. This rule means that if the state bought the land, all the historic buildings would have to be torn down.
To save the camp, a group called the Preservation League of New York State stepped in. They worked with the state to make sure the buildings would be protected. Today, Great Camp Sagamore is an educational center. It helps people learn about its history and the Adirondacks.
National Recognition
A part of Sagamore was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This is a list of places important to American history. The camp was officially named a National Historic Landmark on May 16, 2000. This means it's one of the most important historic places in the country.
Today, the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, Inc. runs the historic camp. You can visit it through guided tours. They also offer places to stay and educational programs from May to October. You can learn more at their website: sagamore.org.
See also
