Prospect Mountain (Warren County, New York)

For other places with the same name, see Prospect Mountain.

Prospect Mountain is a mountain located in the town of Lake George in Warren County, New York. New York State Route 917A, an unsigned reference route also known as Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, is a toll road maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation[1] and is the highway by which one reaches the summit at 5.88 miles (9.46 km), where a 100-mile (160 km) view can be seen.[2]

History

Cable gears for the old incline railway on Prospect Mountain

Prospect Mountain originally had to use an incline railway car to access the house at the top where people could dance and eat.[3] Construction on the railway began in January 1895 and cost $120,000 total. Construction was finished six months later, with the railway opening on June 15, 1895.[3] After failing financially, the railway system ceased operation in 1903.[4] The area was bought and soon donated to the State of New York. The nearby hiking trail that heads up towards the mountaintop is part of the old railway.[5]

In 1932, the building at the top of the mountain burned down and was replaced by a steel fire tower.[6] For 30 years, people studied what to do with the land, which was owned by the state, and in 1954, New York Governor Tom Dewey signed legislation to build a highway up the mountain. Twelve years later, in 1966, then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller made funds available for the highway.[6] The Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway was opened in 1969, dedicated to war veterans and providing access to the 2,021-foot (616 m) summit with a 100-mile (160 km) view at its peak.[7]

References

  1. ↑ New York State Department of Transportation (January 2012). Official Description of Highway Touring Routes, Bicycling Touring Routes, Scenic Byways, & Commemorative/Memorial Designations in New York State (PDF). Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ Google (December 25, 2007). "Overview map of NY 917A" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  3. 1 2 The Catskill Archive (2007). "THE PROSPECT MOUNTAIN CABLE INCLINE RAILWAY". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  4. ↑ Dr. Patrick L. Cooney (2007). "A Brief History of Lake George". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  5. ↑ "Lake George Area Scenic Byway - New York Scenic Drives". GORP. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  6. 1 2 "Prospect Mountain in History". Lake George Historical Association. 2002. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  7. ↑ "Missing veterans honored on mountaintop". The Post-Star. 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
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