New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Historic District

This 118-mile railroad corridor runs from just north of Remsen to Lake Placid, crossing Oneida, Herkimer, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Essex Counties. Built in 1891-92 under William Seward Webb and designed by chief engineer W. N. Roberts, it was completed in about 18 months across difficult terrain. The district includes 23 buildings and 18 structures: wood and stone stations, freight houses, bunkhouses, section foremen's dwellings, a company store and 17 metal bridges on granite or concrete abutments, mostly replaced in 1912-13. The line brought wealthy travelers to the region's private estates and inns, provided the only direct rail link between central New York and Canada, and carried athletes, spectators and boxcars of snow for the 1932 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. Traffic declined after about 1940. The right-of-way is now vacant and mostly state-owned, and its surviving track, bridges and buildings retain a high degree of integrity.