Lake Placid and Saranac Lake are known for their natural beauty and endless outdoor recreation, but the region also features several museums and historic sites. Come stay at Moreno’s Cottages and explore the area’s rich history, from the first laboratory for tuberculosis research to Lake Placid’s many Olympic complexes to the historic homes of a famous author and abolitionist.
Lake Placid Olympic Center & Museum – 2634 Main St., Lake Placid
Home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, the Lake Placid Olympic Center is where the U.S. men’s hockey team defeated the Soviet Union on their way to winning gold in the famous “Miracle on Ice”. Take a tour of the Herb Brooks Arena, where the famous hockey game was played, and visit the Olympic Museum, featuring memorabilia, photos and video footage from the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games.
Olympic Ski Jumping Complex – 5486 Cascade Rd., Lake Placid, NY
Towering 240 feet above Lake Placid, the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex combines rich Olympic history and world-class ski jumping events with unique visitor experiences. Take a gondola ride to the top of the ski jumps, or soar like an Olympic skier on the Sky Flyer zipline. The Complex also hosts the Flaming Leaves Festival every October, featuring the U.S. Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined National Championships, live music, food vendors, and kids’ activities.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sliding Center – 31 Van Hoevenberg Way, Lake Placid, NY
The site of the second-oldest sliding track in the world, Mt. Van Hoevenberg has hosted two Winter Olympics, thirteen World Sliding Championships and many other National and International competitions in bobsled, luge and skeleton. Take the one-hour guided Legacy Tour, ride the longest coaster in North America, and experience what it’s like to glide down the sliding track on a bobsled or skeleton sled.
John Brown Farm State Historic Site – 115 John Brown Rd., Lake Placid, NY
Visit the Brown family home and final resting place of famed abolitionist John Brown, and tour the “Dreaming of Timbuctoo” exhibit, which tells the story of a farming community that was created for Black families to migrate to the Adirondacks and homestead. The John Brown Farm State Historic Site provides a glimpse of life in the 19th century and offers fascinating information about Brown and his mission to abolish the practice of slavery.
Saranac Laboratory Museum – 89 Church St., Saranac Lake, NY
Re-opened in 2009 as a museum, the Saranac Laboratory was built in 1894 and was the first lab in the U.S. dedicated to tuberculosis research. Today, the Saranac Laboratory Museum details Saranac Lake’s history as a world-wide center for tuberculosis treatment and recovery through self-guided exhibits, audio tours and a variety of short films. Visitors can also tour the Pandemic Perspectives exhibit in the John Black Room Library, which compares the history of tuberculosis with the Covid-10 pandemic.
Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum – 44 Stevenson Ln., Saranac Lake, NY
Carefully preserved with a large collection of personal belongings and related material, the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum is dedicated to the famous author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Treasure Island, and many other enduring works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Stevenson chose Saranac Lake because of its reputation for tuberculosis treatment, and he lived in the cottage from October 1887 until April 1888.
Book Your Stay at Our Lake Placid & Saranac Lake Cabins
Moreno’s Cottages is conveniently located between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, making it the perfect place to stay while exploring the museums and historic sites in both towns. Select from one-bedroom, two-bedroom and pet-friendly cabin rentals, as well as year-round cabin rentals and our Lake Colby Vacation Home Rental. To make a reservation, book online or give us a call at 518-265-5370.