1893 Map of the Adirondack Wilderness
DESCRIPTION
This detailed and historically significant map of the "Adirondack Wilderness” was published in 1893 for the New York Forest Commission by Seneca Ray Stoddard of Glens Falls, New York. It represents the sixteenth (revised) edition of Stoddard’s influential Adirondack maps and was part of a broader public effort to document, manage, and preserve the natural resources of upstate New York during a transformative era for American conservation.
Examining the Map
The map covers a broad swath of northern New York, centering on the wilderness lands of the central Adirondack Park. It delineates township boundaries, waterways, trails, railroads, telegraph offices, and major roads, with many of the region’s lakes and mountain ranges clearly labeled. Towns such as Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, and Lake Placid are marked, along with wilderness landmarks like Mount Marcy and Indian Pass.
Special attention is given to distances, both by road and by air-line (straight-line), from Mount Marcy, the state's highest peak. These distances are indicated by concentric 10-mile rings, helping travelers and officials alike gauge accessibility. An explanation box in the lower left corner defines the symbols used to represent features such as important roads, carries and trails, flowage areas, and telegraph lines.
The shaded pink areas represent the forest preserve, which by law was to remain “forever wild.” Lavishly detailed and printed in subdued tones of pink and beige with bold black typography, the map offers a rare and comprehensive view of the Adirondack region just as the idea of forest preservation was taking root in the state.
Mapping as a Tool for Conservation and Tourism
Created at a time of growing industrial threat to the region’s forests and waterways, this map served a dual function, as both a navigational aid and a political instrument. Published shortly after the formation of the New York Forest Commission (est.1885), it underscored the state’s commitment to regulating logging, managing waterways, and setting aside public lands for preservation.
Stoddard, a noted photographer and publisher, was deeply engaged in promoting tourism and conservation in the Adirondacks. His maps, especially this revised edition reflect an evolving balance between industrial and commercial development and environmental stewardship. As such, this 1893 map stands as both a technical cartographic achievement and a foundational document in the history of American wilderness protection.
CONDITION
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