2026 History Talks and Events
All talks are open and free to the public. They will be held in-person at the LGHA Museum at 290 Canada Street, Lake George. Lectures MAY also be streamed live on the website or our Facebook page, and archived for later viewing on the website.
Wednesday May 6, 2026 6 pm: “The Worldview of the Haudenosaunee” - Tom Sakokwenion:kwas
This special program features Tom Sakokwenion:kwas Porter, a respected Mohawk elder of the Bear Clan and founder of the Kanatsiohareke community. Porter has spent decades teaching Haudenosaunee philosophy, language, and traditions, offering audiences a thoughtful perspective on the spiritual and cultural foundations of the People of the Longhouse.
Saturday May 2, 2026 3pm: Amy Godine
In this engaging presentation, author and curator Amy Godine moves beyond the scope of her recent book, The Black Woods, to offer a comprehensive and expanded chronology of the Black Adirondack experience.
Drawing on her decades of research into the social history of the region, Godine explores the lives of Black pioneers, miners, and activists who shaped this high corner of New York. By examining the intersections of ethnic and Black neighborhoods against the backdrop of broader social trends—from suffrage activism to the impact of eugenics—she challenges entrenched ideas about Adirondack exceptionalism."
2025 Lectures
“Through Susan’s Eyes: Susan B. Anthony’s Childhood in Washington County, NY”
with Debi Craig & Sandy McReynolds
This engaging talk brings to life the early years of women’s rights icon Susan B. Anthony, rooted in Battenville, NY—where her formative experiences and family shaped the values she carried into her national advocacy. Learn how her story is preserved and interpreted today through local research and preservation efforts.
"The Buzz on Lake George" – A thrilling dive into the history of speedboat racing on Lake George
Ginger Kuenzel takes us on a journey of the history of speedboat racing from the early 20th century through present times.
2024 Lecture Series
July 9, 2024 4:00 pm - Dr. Alice Green
Growing Up Black in the Adirondacks
Dr. Alice Green is the Executive Director of the Center for Law and Justice, a civil rights organization she founded in 1985. She has a doctorate in criminal justice and 3 master's degrees – education, social work, and criminology.
Green has won numerous awards for her activism in the Capital District, including from the New York State Bar Association, NAACP, and Rockefeller College.
September 11, 2024 6:00 pm - Kay Olan and Tom Porter
Teachings and Stories from the Iroquois
Kay Olan from the Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan, is a Mohawk educator and storyteller.
Tom Porter, Sakokwenionkwas is a founder, spokesperson, and spiritual leader from the Mohawk Community of Kanatsiohareke.
July 30, 2024 6:00 pm - Erin Tobin of Adirondack Architectural Heritage
Historic Preservation in the Adirondacks
Erin Tobin is the Executive Director of Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), a nonprofit historic preservation organization for New York State’s Adirondack region with a mission to promote better public understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Adirondacks’ unique and diverse architectural heritage.
August 8, 2024 6:00 pm - Noah Chirnomas
Introducing LGHA's New John Apperson Exhibit: John Apperson and his Early 20th Century Lake Conservation
The LGHA has opened a new exhibit this summer about John Apperson and his impact on Lake George. The exhibit was created by Noah Chirnomas, the 20-year-old author of "Dome Island: Forever Wild on Lake George", who has visited Lake George each year from New Jersey since his early childhood.
His talk will discuss his new exhibit, about John Apperson’s life and his important contributions to the preservation of Lake George, which generations continue to love and enjoy. He looks forward to answering questions from the audience.
August 13, 2024 6:00 pm - Dr. Lyn Hohmann
The Forts of Lake George Battlefield Park
Dr. Hohmann is a retired family physician who grew up in Hudson Falls. Her father shared his interest of history with her sparking a lifelong interest in the subject. She volunteered with David Starbuck and worked on digs in each of the forts. She was president of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and started many of the ongoing activities in the park including the VIC of which she is still curator.
The talk will be a discussion of the history of fort building and destruction in Lake George Battlefield Park. The two forts discussed will be the stockaded fort and Fort George, both built in 1759. Included with the history will be information about the archaeological research done at both sites.
Date TBD 6:00 pm - Margy Mannix
Down Memory Lane, The Road to Lake George
Margy Mannix grew up in Lake George and graduated from Lake George High School. She attended Boston University where she studied public relations. In 2014 she was appointed to be the position of Municipal Historian for the Village and Town of Lake George.
This presentation begins at State Route 149 and takes the audience north on U.S. Route 9 to the site of Lake George High School. The focus of the talk is on the west side of Route 9, what once existed there and what still remains.
Past Lectures
August 20, 2020
Teri Podnorszki Rogers, Executive Director of the Warren County Historical Society, has a conversation with Gwenne Rippon, daughter of Diane Struble, about her new LGHA sponsored book, “Called by the Water: When Diane Struble Swam Lake George.” This will be a live interview and you can join us on Facebook Live where you can ask questions and interact in the chat, or join us right here on this website!
August 15, 2020
Writer and Historian Joseph Cutshall-King gave us a great presentation about the career and life of Seneca Ray Stoddard, a widely acclaimed pioneer of photography who originated in the Glens Falls area and who focused intently on exposing Lake George to the broader world beyond the Adirondacks. It was a fascinating look from his perspective into the life of a true Renaissance man!
August 6, 2020
"A Conversation with Dr. Alice Green-her Adirondack life, Structural Racism, and the Current Movement for Justice" is a live interview with Dr. Alice Green, Director of the Center for Law and Justice.
In this talk, LGHA trustee Louise Rourke spoke with Dr. Green about her perspectives on Black Americans in the Adirondack region, her work with the Center for Law and Justice and experiences of the African American community in the North Country.
July 30, 2020
Thursday, July 30th, we spoke with open-water swimmer Bridget Simpson, as she discussed the joy, pain, preparation and yes, even obsession that is required to swim Lake George!
There was a lot of great audience interaction, great questions about cold water preparation, and how her perspective of the lake changed as she became more experienced and familiar with its many moods.
It was a terrific presentation by Bridget, you're sure to enjoy!
July 16, 2020
Hannah DeGarmo visited us on Thursday, July 16th, 7pm to discuss her work on the "Lake George On the Water" series of mini-documentaries telling the stories of people, places and traditions of the Lake George watershed.
She also discussed the support by the Folklife Center with funds from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, as well as her work on an earlier series, "Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity and the River."
July 9, 2020
Sarah Hoffman joined us on Thursday, July 9th at 7pm and we talked about the Lake George Land Conservancy, she shared the purpose and mission of the organization and also about the LGLC's signature fun event, the Hike-a-Thon!
Sarah talked about the past history of the event, but also how it has changed from its inception and how it continues to evolve in this time of social distancing!
There was a lot of great sharing and teaching about LGLC in this talk!