You Won't Believe This Town Is In New York
Just as Paris and the Eiffel Tower are synonymous with France, the Big Apple’s skyline and Statue of Liberty are associated with the state of New York. While much of this is linked to their shared name, New York City’s fame is undeniable. After welcoming almost 65 million visitors in 2024, NYC’s tourism is projected to surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2025, proving the city’s powerful presence. Even so, New York State is brimming with beauty beyond Central Park and Broadway. In Upstate New York, the township of Ticonderoga is NYC’s distant, far-removed cousin. A rural community surrounded by lakes and hills, under 5,000 people call Ticonderoga home, yet its natural surroundings and historic attractions welcome tens of thousands every year. For those of us who equate the Empire State with the Big Apple, it is hard to believe this rustic town is in New York. Nevertheless, Ticonderoga’s quirks and charms reveal a depth to the state often overshadowed by NYC, inviting travelers to delve deeper.
What Is Ticonderoga Known For?
If the name “Ticonderoga” sounds familiar, you may recognize it from an object you have at home. In the early 19th century, Ticonderoga’s mines supplied graphite to an emerging pencil manufacturer. Borrowing the town’s name, the Dixon Ticonderoga Company became one of the country’s leading pencil producers, which they remain to this day. With over 700 million Ticonderoga-brand pencils sold every year, the town’s mining industry may be a thing of the past, but its legacy lives on in writing.
Beyond its ties to “The World's Best Pencil,” Ticonderoga’s name has a connection to its natural surroundings. The name is derived from the word “cheonderoga,” an Iroquois word roughly translating to “where the waters meet” or “between two waters.” This title is in reference to the town’s surrounding waters: Lake George and Lake Champlain, which are connected by the La Chute River. As a prominent outdoor retreat, this name could not be more fitting for the breathtaking New York town.
Top To-Dos In Ticonderoga
Visit Black Point Beach For Its Million-Dollar View
Along the shores of shimmering Lake George, Black Point Beach is known for its “million-dollar view” and family-friendly atmosphere. Open to the public for free from 10 am to 6 pm each summer, beachgoers can enjoy soft sands, mellow waters, a playground, and picturesque views of Rogers Rock in the distance. A feature of the Adirondack foothills, the rock formation towers over 700 feet above the lake, creating a stunning backdrop for a day at Black Point Beach.
Savor Jaw-Dropping Scenes Atop Mount Defiance
For gorgeous views and momentous history, Mount Defiance is truly memorable. Standing around 853 feet tall, the epic formation is technically more a hill than a mountain, but its commanding presence made the name stick. The hill overlooks Lake Champlain and two historic sites: Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga. During the 1777 Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, Mount Defiance played an important role in the American Revolutionary battle.
Apart from its historic significance, Mount Defiance is loved for its panoramic views of Lake Champlain. In 2025, from May 3rd to October 26th, visitors can drive up Mount Defiance or hike to the top, which generally takes a little over an hour. At the summit, picnic tables and beautiful views await, with cannons visible along the ridge, representing the weapons used during the 1777 siege.
Discover History And Nature At Fort Ticonderoga
Below mighty Mount Defiance, the Fort Ticonderoga historic site spans 2000 scenic acres, blending history and nature in a dazzling way. Much of the 18th-century fort is still intact and has been restored to its original glory, making the living museum a must-see for history buffs. Visitors can take daily Guided Tours and observe battle reenactments to learn about the fort’s involvement in the Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. Inside, the museum also displays an eclectic collection of 18th-century military artifacts, including weapons, art, and other equipment.
Back outside, nature lovers can explore the site’s pristine botanical garden. From Tuesday to Sunday, King’s Garden tours are hosted to showcase the site’s evolving landscapes. While the gardens here once consisted solely of vegetables to nourish armies, they later transitioned to private estate grounds. Today, the King’s Garden commemorates both its brick paths lined with colorful flowers and vegetables alike.
Beyond the garden trails, battlefield hikes are another popular way to discover history and nature at Fort Ticonderoga. The Carillon Battlefield Hiking Trail is accessible from June through October, guiding hikers through a wooded landscape that hosted the Battle of Carillon in 1758. The 1.7-mile loop also leads past countless points of interest, including bedrock glacier scars and a historic military encampment field.
Take A Star Trek Original Series Set Tour
While Ticonderoga mainly draws visitors with its natural surroundings and historic landmarks, it is also known for a quirkier attraction: the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour. Located in downtown Ticonderoga, Trekkies have traveled from all over the country to tour the passion project of James Cawley, an Elvis impersonator and avid Star Trek fan.
While the museum is niche, for true fans of the show, the set tour is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth traveling for. Although the sets are recreations of the originals used in the 1960s Star Trek Original Series, Cawley constructed them using the original blueprints, resulting in incredible accuracy.
Discover New York Beyond NYC
Despite its diverse landscapes, towns, and cultures, the Empire State is forever glued to its namesake city. With Times Square dominating travel guides and Lady Liberty commanding Google Images, it is understandable why so many of us associate New York with its iconic city.
Nevertheless, unique towns like Ticonderoga reveal New York’s depth and diversity, beyond NYC’s city lights and urban jungle. Whether enjoying a “million-dollar view” at Black Point Beach, taking a battlefield hike at Fort Ticonderoga, or visiting quirky attractions like the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour, Ticonderoga unveils a side of New York you may not have known existed.
