Lake Champlain’s Early History
Lake Champlain was named for Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer, who first saw the lake in 1609, but native people had been depending on the lake for food, water and transportation for ten thousand years before Champlain’s arrival.
In the Colonial era the lake provided easy passage between the Saint Lawrence and Hudson River Valleys. This passage connected French North America (Montreal and Quebec) and English North America (Albany and New York). Because of the easy and speedy travel it offered, this strategic military location was the scene of many battles for control. Throughout the Colonial period, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 fleets of warships patrolled its waters and important battles were fought on Lake Champlain and the land surrounding it. A number of the old fortresses are still visible and a few, like Fort Ticonderoga have been maintained or restored.
History of Lake Champlain in the Commercial and Recreational Eras
In the early 1800’s with the completion of the Champlain Canal, Lake Champlain was connected to the Hudson River allowing north-south commerce between New York City and Montreal (and Atlantic Canada). This began a booming commercial era in Lake Champlain history. Barges, sloops and lake schooners bustled back and forth carrying lumber, iron ore and agricultural goods.
Today Lake Champlain enjoys a more peaceful existence the warships have been replaced by recreational boaters. Thousands of people enjoy fishing, swimming and enjoying the beauty of the Lake Champlain life.
Related articles
- The Battle of Plattsburgh- September 11, 1814 Victory on Lake Champlain (ushistoryburns.wordpress.com)
