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1700- Settlement and discovery
Water power, human ingenuity, and the availability of raw materials, principally timber and iron ore, fueled the settlement and development of the Ausable Valley in the 19th century. The Ausable River was at the heart of this early development because of its usefulness as a power supply, as a water supply for communities, and as a way of disposing of waste.
The Ausable Valley has a number of designated historic sites. The entire Adirondack Forest Preserve (est. 1885) is designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Also listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, are John Brown Farm (1849) in North Elba; and the Elkanah Watson House (1828) in Port Kent.
There are an abundance of structures within the Ausable River corridor that are on the National Register of Historic Places; these include: the Keeseville Historic District which includes 125 residential, commercial, ecclesiastical, and industrial buildings, and three historic bridges that are also listed as a national Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The river is spanned by a variety of old and historic bridges that represent one hundred and sixty-six years of engineering history.
1820-1880 Age of Iron, Mills, Forges and Logging
In the mid 1800's the power of the Ausable River was harnessed to float logs, power saw and gristmills, and cool iron forges. Hike up a mountainside trail and you'll find remnants of industry and farming. Today the mills, iron mines, and factories are gone and the natural habitat is returning.
1850's - Artists Hudson River School
Winslow Homer and other noted artists camped much of their summers in this area. Photos, illustrations, and descriptions of the river from this period can be found in numerous publications.
1870-1923 Golden Age of Tourism
While receiving no official historic designations to date, numerous sites in and around the village of Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, associated with the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, have developed as popular destinations for both residents and tourists alike.
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