Families will have a chance to view the Adirondacks from the top of the world in a unique program offered by the Adirondack History Museum.
The Adirondack History Museum will present its Adirondack Fire Tower program Wednesday, July 22 and Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The free program for families explores the history and ongoing role of fire towers in regional land stewardship.
“Fire towers are one of the emblematic sights in the Adirondacks, and this program offers insight into the history of these structures and the important role they played in fire protection and local history,” said Museum Director Aurora McCaffrey.
The Fire Tower Program is appropriate for students in the 4th through 8th grades. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Fire Tower Program will begin at the Adirondack History Museum, where participants will learn about the history of fire towers with a guided tour of the museum’s permanent fire tower exhibit. The exhibit includes an actual fire tower, which individuals may climb for a bird’s eye view of Elizabethtown.
Following the in-museum program, the day will shift to Chesterfield for a guided hike up Poke-O-Moonshine to visit the in situ 1917 Fire Tower. The program will be led by David Thomas-Train, a local fire tower expert and educator.
Hike participants will learn about the natural history of Poke-O-Moonshine and its fire tower’s role in protecting the surrounding forest. The mountain’s informative trail brochure, the restored “fire finder” map, and the interpretive photographic panels in the fire tower’s cabin will provide background for this exploration.
Individuals should wear proper footwear and attire for hiking, and will need to supply their own water bottles and a bagged lunch. At the summit, participants will enjoy lunch and climb Poke-O-Moonshine’s fire tower.
Interested individuals are asked to call the museum ahead of time to RSVP for the free program.
The Adirondack Fire Tower Program, which is sponsored by International Paper, Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match and the Lake Champlain Basin Program, was also presented to students at Westport Central School and Keene Central School in June.
“Experiential learning is a great way for students to gain a better understanding of the world,” said McCaffrey. “Along with learning about the history of fire towers, the hike encourages children to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of the Adirondacks.”
The Adirondack History Museum seeks to serve as Essex County’s center for the stories that reveal the roots and values of its people. The museum is open daily from May 25 to Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for students.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact the museum at (518) 873-6466 or echs@adkhistorymuseum.org, or visit the Museum’s website at www.adkhistorymuseum.org.
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