Contested Terrain: New History of Nature and People in the Adirondacks

Rich with illustrations from the collection of the Adirondack Museum, Contested Terrain is a comprehensive introduction to the history of the Adirondacks. In it, Philip G. Terrie explores the conflict that has been debated in this region for centuries: is the Adirondack country a place to be exploited for its natural resources or is it an area to be preserved for its natural beauty and open spaces? Terrie introduces the key players who have shaped the region and its use, from the early settlers, guides, loggers, and genteel nineteenth-century sportsmen to the current year-round residents, wealthy downstate landholders, preservationists, and developers. And the debate continues today. The diversity within the Adirondack Park - from downtown Lake George to the remotest corner of the West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area - emphasizes the need for a lucid, humane, and environmentally sensitive agenda for the future of the Adirondacks.