Come on in…

WE’RE OPENING OUR DOORS FOR A BRAND NEW SEASON.

Current Exhibit

“A WHIRL of PLEASURE”

This lively expression for summer getaways on Lake George during the Gilded Age was coined by W.H. Tippetts, 2nd editor of the Lake George Mirror. In fact, the term “Gilded Age” was applied to the 1870s through the late 1890s on the inspiration of 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley.

During the latter half of the 19th century a summer civilization unique in the history of the resort business flourished on Lake George. In those years about 100 hotels sprang up on the shores of Lake George catering to as many as 200,000 people. Rapid economic growth in the East and a newly built railroad system connecting the entire East Coast to the Adirondacks made Lake George a perfect playground for the wealthy.

When the hotels were built guest arriving by steamboat, stagecoach, and carriage filled them up ready to experience the fresh air, healthful spring water, excellent cuisine, and ample opportunities for mountain climbing, fishing, boating, tennis, and croquet, with the added pleasures of socializing on hotel verandas, costume parties, theatrical entertainments, and musicals.

We’ve selected a few of W. H. Tippetts pithy observations of summer life on Lake George that appeared in various issues of the Lake George Mirror.

W.H. Tippetts purchased the newspaper in 1890 and transformed it into a medium to promote Lake George as a summer resort. Every week, he set out in his tiny steam yacht, the MIRROR, to visit the hotels along the shore to gather their news and, as he said, their shekels.

We hope your time with us and your visit to Lake George is
Your Whirl of Pleasure

Attention aspiring creators, day dreamers, fun seekers and free thinkers…

Bolton Historical Museum presents Summer Youth Programming as part of the current exhibition about water titled H-2-OH! This program will be offered to boys and girls ages 8-15 to create a progressive mural in the museum.  We want you to show us what inspires you, who inspires you, and what ideas and dreams you have for the future.  Enrollees will meet one day a week during the summer months to work on this fun multi-media project and its progress will be on display for visitors to the museum to enjoy.  The program will be taught by an incredible team of artist/teachers who will guide the process of this creative experience. For more information and to sign-up, check out the form below. Come be a part of the fun!

MUSEUM HOURS:

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Special Hours
10 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday

Summer Hours 

Open Daily July 4 – Labor Day 
10 A.M. - 4 P.M. 

Spring and Fall Hours (Open Now)

Saturdays and Sundays
10 A.M. - 4 P.M.

The Historical Society of the Town of Bolton is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.