Did you ever wonder how the 32-mile crown jewel of the Adirondacks got its name?
From which famous George does this beautiful body of water draw its name, and who called it Lake George?
Read on to find out!
“Andia-ta-roc-te is the oldest recorded name of Lake George. That Native American moniker means the “lake that shuts itself in.”
Fun fact: James Fenimore Cooper’s “Last of the Mohicans” the fictional Native American name for Lake George is “Horicon” (after a tribe that may have lived nearby) because Cooper felt Andia-ta-roc-te would be too difficult to pronounce.
Next time you take a tour with us on the lake, see if you can spot the Horicon ship, which is one half of Lake George Shoreline’s cruise ship fleet.
Back to history — In 1646, Isaac Jogues renamed the lake “Lac du Saint Sacrement, which means “Lake of the Blessed Sacrament” in French.
St. Jogues was born in Orleans, France. He was a missionary and martyr who worked with Iroquois, Huron and other Native Americans. He is the first recorded European to name what is today Lake George.
You may notice another cruise ship on the lake bearing this second recorded name — the Lac Du St. Sacrement is the largest of Lake George Steamboat Company’s ships.
Let’s travel to 1755 now when Sir William Johnson, for which nearby Johnstown is named, renamed the lake located in the southern Adirondacks “Lake George” in honor of King George II.
William Johnson also named Fort William Henry, which is located at the southern end of the lake. Johnson named the Fort in honor of Prince William Henry, grandson of King George II.
That’s just a sample of the history you’ll learn on a tour with us! We’re already booking for the 2021 season, so email Don at lgislandboattours@gmail.com to book your trip.
Sir William Johnson
