Lakes to Locks Passage

Lakes to Locks Passage. The Great Northeast Journey. , Lakes to Locks Passage takes you through a spectacular landscape laden with history. Follow this map to find your way through four story-filled regions that connect the historic waters of Lake Champlain and Lake George with the Champlain Canal and Hudson River to the south and the Chambly Canal to the Richelieu and St. Lawrence Rivers of Quebec to the north., Waypoint Communities are poised to greet the traveler along Lakes to Locks Passage, offering sites to visit, lodging, dining and shopping experi-ences. Streams of history flow through these valleys, reflecting "lives" that continue to unfold. Be sure to visit the Waypoint Community Heritage Centers located throughout the region for interpretive exhibits that reveal the stories of the Four Lives of Lakes to Locks Passage., The Four Lives , - Natural Forces and Native Peoples shaped the landscape and culture of the inland waterway rich with resources. , - Conflict and Settlement traces the exploration, warfare and peacekeeping activities of nation-building along the waterway. , - Corridor of Commerce explores the trade in furs, timber, stone, minerals, farm products and technology that flows through these valleys. , - Magnet for Tourism reveals the evolution of tourism and stewardship of the environment., [ Photo and Drawing Captions: ] , American row galleys and Hagship Saratoga engage the British brig Linnet in Plattsburgh Bay in this detail of "MacDonough's Victory on Lake Champlain" by Henry Reinagle, 1816., Overlooking Lake George., [Second Panel: ] , Port Henry , The Village of Port Henry, within the Town of Moriah, clings to the hillsides that made it rich, A lakeshore bed of iron ore put this community on the map before the American Revolution. This ore was used to create the fittings on the fleet of ships built by Benedict Arnold to oppose the British in the Battle of Valcour in October 1776. Rich deposits of iron ore found to the west of the village fed a growing demand for the nation's burgeoning industrial revolution in Troy, located at the southern end of Lakes to Locks Passage. Port Henry and Moriah produced tons of pig iron for more than a century The great wealth generated. from this natural resource is visible today in the grand homes lining Port Henrys Main Street and the Italianate revival features of the Witherbee Sherman Iron Company headquarters, now the Moriah Town Hall., Port Henry commands a stunning view of Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains and the Lake Champlain Bridge, built in 1929 across the narrows that mark the beginning of the broad lake. Sailboats have plenty of room to tack back and forth in the open bay in any wind: Campgrounds, marinas and a public boat launch offer access to the water., Mountain streams feed a thriving fish population all year round. "Champ" the Lake Champlain "sea monster," lives on as Port Henry's mascot. Tourists and scientists alike come from all over the world in the hope of filming the legendary creature,, Places of Interest , . In the Iron Center, exhibits and a model of underground operations tell the story of iron mining and processing in Moriah. Located in the converted carriage house, next to the former Witherbee Sherman Iron Company headquarters (now Moriah Town Hall, down the hill and left on Park Street. , . A rolling stock display alongside the "Chateau" Style Delaware and Hudson Railroad station celebrates the history of the Lake Champlain and Moriah Railroad, Located at the foot of Park Street; across from the Town Hall and Iron Center. , . A trail to the fire tower on Belfry Mountain, high above the mining hamiets of Witherbe@ and Mineville.in the-Town of Moriah, affords a spectacular view of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont. , . Bike the Lake Champlain Bikeways routes "Wet and Wild" and "Iron to Jron." , . Visit the Champ View mural and read about recorded sightings of "Champ" that date back to Samuel de Champlain's exploratory venture in 1609. Located at the RT 22 pull off at Bulwagga Bay,, [ Photo Captions: ] , - Nearly everyone knows someone who has actually seen Champ. All who gather for a parade cheer this happy incarnation of the mythical underwater beast, Photo by Barb Beebe-Brassard., - Port Henry's waterfront welcomes visitors to swim and camp along two long, sandy beaches, Boaters can launch at Powerhouse Park or private marinas: Phote by Brandy Saxton and Lohr McKinstry., - Port Henry's iron furnaces and ore processing infrastructure changed the contours of the shoreline below the Village. Today; campers spend their summers on beaches created by the iron industry. Photo courtesy of Moriah Historical Society