1922 Knight Pictorial Map of the Adirondacks, New York

A charming 1922 Arthur S. Knight pictorial map of the Adirondack region of New York, including both Lake Champlain and Lake George. This map was issued in the year the Adirondack Mountain Club was founded.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces the Adirondacks from Champlain south to Johnstown, with cities and towns labeled throughout. Color coding indicates road grades, from dustless macadam to common dirt. Railroads traverse the region, including from north to south along both shores of Lake Champlain, connecting Champlain with Sarasota Springs. Among the illustrated railroads are the 'Delaware and Hudson Railway,' the 'New York Central and Hudson River Railway,' and the 'Rutland Railway.' A map of 'Good Roads Leading to the Adirondacks' occupies part of the verso, along with an Adirondack Business Directory.

The Adirondacks

In the early 1920s, the Adirondack region of northern New York was emerging as a prominent destination for outdoor recreation, conservation, and rustic living, reflecting broader trends in American society. The region's dense forests, pristine lakes, and rugged mountains, protected under the 'Forever Wild' clause of the New York State Constitution since 1894, made it a haven for those seeking refuge from urban industrialization. Wealthy families, including the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, continued to build expansive private 'Great Camps,' blending luxury with rustic aesthetics. At the same time, middle-class Americans increasingly accessed the area, spurred by the rise of automobile travel and improved infrastructure. The Adirondacks played a key role in the burgeoning conservation movement, with efforts by groups like the Adirondack Mountain Club (founded in 1922, the year this was published) to promote sustainable enjoyment of the wilderness. The region also retained its economic roots in logging, mining, and small-scale farming, though these industries faced challenges from conservation policies and economic shifts. This period laid the groundwork for the Adirondacks' modern identity as both a recreational paradise and a symbol of wilderness preservation in the United States.

Publication History and Census

This map was originally published by Edward A. Knight in 1920 and then republished by his son Arthur Stanley Knight in 1922. Editions followed through the 1940s. Six examples of a map bearing this title are cataloged in OCLC; however, due to cataloging inconsistencies, most are dated unreliably, making a complete census difficult. Scarce on the private market.