Since the late 1800s, the Adirondack region has been a popular vacation destination for urbanites looking to escape NYC smog. Through a series of artifacts – including the carriage ridden by Theodore Roosevelt when he quickly left the Adirondacks to get to Buffalo, NY to be sworn in as president following the assassination of President McKinley – the Adirondack Experience (ADKX) shares stories of the people who lived, worked and played in the Adirondack Park from that point through present day.

Start your visit to ADKX in its core exhibition, Life in the Adirondacks. Experience the people, place and spirit of the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, all within 19,000-square feet of interactive exhibits, hands-on activities and culturally rich collections. Try your hand at breaking up a log jam like a 19th century lumberjack, row a historical guide boat and learn about the indigenous cultures of the area.

From there, explore other main exhibits, including:

• Woods and Waters – Discover America’s love for the wilderness and outdoor recreation in the late 1800s and early 1900s

• Boats and Boating – See the world’s largest collection of guide boats and a variety of other Adirondack watercraft

• Work in the Woods – Explore the history of logging in the Adirondacks, once one of New York’s major industries.

Artists & Inspiration in the Wild, ADKX’s newest permanent exhibit, features the most comprehensive showing of ADKX’s art collection in the museum's history. Its four main galleries illustrate how the natural features of the Adirondacks – light, forests, water and mountains – have sparked the creative visions of painters, sculptors and artisans. But you can do more than admire the art! Through innovative social interactions, visitors can engage with the collection, adjusting the light or frame of a piece to see how it impacts the overall tone. At the end, you can make your own artwork inspired by the Adirondacks in the ADKX Art Lab makerspace, inspired by artist Barney Bellinger’s own studio space.

Take a look into Adirondack life when you visit a variety of historic buildings spread out across campus. View former cottages decorated with traditional Adirondack furniture. Imagine a rustic life in the Kids’ Cabin where kids can play in the kitchen or wash laundry the old-fashioned way. And stop by the one-room Reising Schoolhouse for games, toys and crafts from a by-gone era. Be sure to save time to walk the family-friendly hiking trail to the ADKX Boathouse where you can borrow a classic guide boat or canoe to take out on Minnow Pond.

With over 23 historical and contemporary buildings on 121 acres overlooking Blue Mountain Lake, the open-air campus offers lots to see and do!