| The Chesapeake |
New York, The Empire State September 13-24, 2017 |
We are pleased to present our new 12-day tour of the state of New York. As the fall foliage begins to paint the landscape, we will venture into the Finger Lakes, Adirondacks, and Hudson Valley regions of this beautiful state. Visits will include Niagara Falls; the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown; and The Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Senecca Falls. We will take a packet boat cruise on the Erie Canal and tour Springwood, Franklin Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park. Nearly one third of the battles of the American Revolution were fought in New York. We will visit some of the most significant forts and battlefields of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Our tour will include tours of Fort Ticonderoga, National Saratoga Military Park, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. ITINERARY (Note: you will need a US Passport or US Passport Card)September 13, WednesdayCheck into our hotel in Buffalo, NY. Join staff and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner. Overnight at Embassy Suites Downtown Buffalo
September 14, Thursday T. Roosevelt Inaugural - Fort George – Chippawa Battlefield This morning, we will see the site of President McKinley’s assassination and visit the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Site where Roosevelt took the oath of office in the library of the Ansley Wilcox home on September 14, 1901.
Next we will cross into Canada and follow the Niagara River to Fort George National Historic Site at Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario. This British military fort was built after Jay’s Treaty (1796) required Britain to withdraw from Fort Niagara, NY. In May 1813, at the Battle of Fort George, American troops captured Fort George and held it for six months. At Brock’s Monument, we will learn about the Battle of Queenston Heights (October 13, 1812) the first major battle of the War of 1812.
This afternoon, we will walk the ground of the Chippawa Battlefield. Fought on July 5, 1814, it was the opening engagement of the Niagara Campaign of 1814, and the longest and bloodiest military operation of the War of 1812. Check into our hotel on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We have booked rooms with views of the Falls. The balance of the late afternoon is on your own to enjoy spectacular views of the Falls and tonight’s light show on the falls. O/N Embassy Suites Niagara Falls Canada Side
September 15, Friday Niagara Falls – Underground Railroad – Erie Canal This morning, we will cross the border to Niagara Falls State Park, NY and take the thrilling “Maid of the Mist” cruise to experience the power of Niagara Falls.
Many routes of the Underground Railroad converged in New York. As many as 30,000 fugitive slaves are estimated to have crossed from the Buffalo-Niagara area into Ontario. At the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center we will see “The Freedom Crossing” Exhibit that tells the story of fugitive slaves who made their way to Buffalo to cross into Canada- and to freedom. Drive to Lockport to explore the Erie Canal Discovery Museum followed by a 90-minute cruise on the Erie Canal. Overnight at Hampton Inn Lockport
September 16, Saturday Homes of Wm. Seward & Harriet Tubman In Auburn, we will tour the historic home of William Henry Seward, who served as Secretary of State in the Lincoln and Johnson administrations. Next we will see the home where Harriet Tubman lived out her life. Originally owned by her friend William Seward, he sold it to her for a modest sum in 1857; an illegal transaction at the time. We will conclude with a visit to the Cayuga Museum/Case Research Lab noted as the birthplace of the first talking movies, the Auburn Prison system, and the first electric chair. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Auburn
September 17, Sunday Watkins Glen State Park – Women’s Rights National Historic Site We will start the day with a nature walk in stunning Watkins Glen State Park to catch some fall foliage. Some consider this park in the Finger Lakes one of the most beautiful state parks in the country. We will walk the 1.5 mile path through the glen, past the foot of 200-foot cliffs and 19 spectacular waterfalls.
Continue to Seneca Falls, the town that likely inspired the design of Bedford Falls in Frank Capra’s film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The first Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls on July 19-20, 1848. At the Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, we will tour the visitor center, the Wesleyan Chapel (site of first convention), and the home of suffragist and abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton who helped organize the convention. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Auburn
September 18, Monday Fort Stanwix - Battle of Oriskany - Cooperstown Depart Auburn for Fort Stanwix National Monument where American troops repelled a siege by British forces in August 1777. The successful siege, together with American victories at the battles of Bennington and Saratoga, succeeded in thwarting British efforts to take the Hudson River Valley. We will visit the Oriksany Battlefield. Fought on August 6, 1777, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolutionary War.
We will continue to Cooperstown, NY where you can choose to visit either the Baseball Hall of Fame or the Fenimore Art Museum. Overnight at Holiday Inn Johnstown
September 19, Tuesday Battle of Saratoga - Fort William Henry We will tour the Saratoga National Historical Park that preserves the site of the first decisive military victory of the American Revolution. Here in the autumn of 1777, American forces met, defeated, and forced a major British army to surrender.
Drive to Fort William Henry at the southern end of Lake George. It was the scene of one of the most notorious incidents in the French and Indian War when General Montcalm’s Indian allies violated surrender terms by killing hundreds of unarmed British soldiers and civilians. The event was described in James Fenimore Cooper's novel, The Last of the Mohicans. Check into lake-view rooms for our two-night stay. Overnight at Marriott Courtyard Lake George
September 20, Wednesday The Adirondacks – Fort Ticonderoga This morning we will drive into the Adirondacks for a private tour of historic Great Camp Sagamore, the wilderness estate of the Vanderbilt family (1901-1954). Continue to Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. In May 1775, the Green Mountain Boys and other militia led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, captured the fort in a surprise attack on the British. Overnight at Marriott Courtyard Lake George
September 21, Thursday Frederick Church home – Washington’s Headquarters Today we will tour Olana State Historic Site, the home of Frederic Edwin Church one of the major figures in the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Continue to Newburgh to Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site. Hasbrouck House was the longest-serving headquarters of Washington during the Revolutionary War (April 1782-August 1783). It was here that Washington rejected the idea that he should be king after the war; ended the Newburgh conspiracy, preventing military control of the government; and created the Badge of Military Merit, forerunner of the Purple Heart. Check into our hotel for two nights. Overnight at Marriott Courtyard Fishkill
September 22, Friday West Point – Beverly House This morning we will tour the United States Military Academy at West Point. Ed Bearss’ dear friend Col. Jim Johnson will be our private guide. Jim taught military history for 30 years at West Point, the Naval War College, and Marist College. Stops will include Trophy Point, Fort Clinton, the Old Cadet Chapel, and the cemetery. Continue to the site of the Beverly Robinson House, Arnold’s residence when he was given command of West Point. The morning Washington discovered his treasonous act, Arnold fled the house and boarded a British ship enabling him to elude capture. En route back to our hotel, we will stop at the Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre open-air museum that has the largest collection of outdoor sculpture in the country. Overnight in Marriott Courtyard Fishkill
September 23, Saturday Springwood at Hyde Park This morning at Hyde Park, we will tour Springwood, the birthplace, home, and burial place of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. We will toast our journey at our farewell luncheon. Proceed to Albany, NY. Overnight Staybridge Suites Albany
September 24, Sunday Individual departures from Albany.
**NOTE: YOU WILL NEED A VALID US PASSPORT OR US PASSPORT CARD FOR OUR VISIT TO CANADA
NEW YORK PROGRAM INCLUDES: * Local guides and historians along our route COST: 12 DAYS/11 NIGHTS Single Occupancy: $4,835 (NOTE: All costs are based on a minimum of 25 participants.)
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