Watkins Glen in Schuyler County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Glen Mountain House

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 12, 2022

1. Glen Mountain House Marker

Captions: (left) Currier and Ives print. The view is looking down the gorge toward the village of Watkins Glen. To the right of the gorge is the Glen Mountain House; to the left is the Swiss Chalet. At times, the Chalet served as a separate dining room for the Glen Mountain House. The suspension bridge in the center of the picture stands to this day.; (top right) The Glen Mountain House, an elegant Victorian inn that opened in 1872, stood on the land in front of you. The in had many "modern" conveniences including gas lamps and an elevator. The hotel burned to the ground in late 1903. Today's lily pond may be in the same location as the pond in the photograph.; (right center, map) Map of the grounds around Glen Mountain House in the 1870s. Just west of the Swiss Chalet there was an air gallery that belonged to Captain James Hope, a prominent local artist whose work included scenes of Watkins Glen's natural beauty.; (bottom right) Engraving from a 19th-century German travel brochure. Some visitors to the Glen Mountain House arrived at the village of Watkins Glen by steamboat and took a carriage up the hill to the inn. Others came by train.

Inscription. Before Watkins Glen became a state park, it was developed as a privately owned resort. Moravalden Ells, a journalist from Elmira, promoted the gorge, which opened to the public on July 4, 1863. Ells gave the gorge's natural features descriptive names like "Rainbow Falls,"Central Cascade," and Elfin Gorge." Many of these names are still used today. Within a decade, Watkins Glen had developed an international reputation and drew tourists from as far away as Europe.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1863.

Location. 42° 22.427′ N, 76° 52.548′ W. Marker is in Watkins Glen, New York, in Schuyler County. It can be reached from Walnut Road near Old Corning Road. The marker is on the Finger Lakes Trail in Watkins Glen State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3600 Walnut Road, Watkins Glen NY 14891, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

in the Finger Lakes,

and in the Southern Tier.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Watkins Glen State Park (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Start - Finish Line (approx. 0.3 miles away); Racing through the streets! (approx. 0.3 miles away); Frank Griswold (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Watkins Glen State Park

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); Watkins Glen Grand Prix Drivers Walk of Fame (approx. 0.3 miles away); Watkins Glen, home to American road racing! (approx. 0.3 miles away); World War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watkins Glen.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Original Watkins Glen Circuit (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing); The Present Watkins Glen Circuit (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing); At Watkins Glen (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 12, 2022

2. Glen Mountain House Marker

Watkins Glen State Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 12, 2022

3. Watkins Glen State Park

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 11, 2022

4. Watkins Glen State Park

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 12, 2022

5. Watkins Glen State Park

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 886 times since then and 115 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 16, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.