The Champlain tercentenary

In Short

This volume presents the official report of the New York State commission charged with commemorating the three-hundredth anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s discovery of his namesake lake. Documenting events from May 1912 through July 1912, it records the reception of a distinguished French delegation, the installation of Auguste Rodin’s allegorical bust La France, and the dedication of permanent monuments at Crown Point and Plattsburgh. Accompanied by historical overviews and archaeological surveys of the region, the work functions as both a record of early twentieth-century international diplomacy and a permanent testament to the Franco-American alliance.

The Story

The volume details the execution of the Lake Champlain Tercentenary Commission’s final mandate: creating permanent monuments and hosting international ceremonies to honor the French navigator who first explored the region in 1609. The narrative opens with the arrival of a high-profile French delegation bringing a specific gift from the French people: an allegorical bronze bust entitled La France, crafted by the sculptor Auguste Rodin. The New York Commission receives these visitors with elaborate hospitalities spanning New York City, Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston, culminating in a formal banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and a ceremonial reception hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York.

From the coastal metropolises, the focus shifts directly into the Champlain Valley. Commission members and their international guests travel by train and chartered steamboat to key historical sites along the water. At Crown Point, amidst the ruins of Fort St. Frédéric and the old English fortifications, the delegates formally place the Rodin bust upon the newly constructed Champlain Memorial Lighthouse. The itinerary continues north across the lake to Plattsburgh, incorporating reviews of United States military regiments, visits to local educational institutions, and formal receptions hosted by prominent regional citizens. Following these engagements, the French delegates tour Niagara Falls and parts of Canada before departing for Europe, leaving behind detailed written impressions of American hospitality and culture.

The second half of the narrative centers on the formal public dedications held in July 1912. The text outlines the intricate logistical and military preparations required to coordinate state militia, federal infantry units, and Canadian regiments. On July 5, official parties—including the Governor of New York and representatives of the President of the United States—gather on the chartered steamer Ticonderoga to dedicate the Crown Point lighthouse. The following day, the ceremonies conclude at Plattsburgh with the unveiling of a monumental bronze statue of Champlain overlooking the mouth of the Saranac River.

To provide historical depth to these modern festivities, the text expands into a broader survey of the Champlain Valley's heritage. It traces the region's transition from an Iroquois battlefield to a critical theater during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, emphasizing naval engagements led by Benedict Arnold and Thomas Macdonough. The work concludes with an archaeological assessment of the valley’s indigenous inhabitants, detailing prehistoric trade networks and physical artifacts uncovered along the shorelines.

How It Unfolds

The arrival of the French mission The New York Commission receives a delegation of French statesmen, academics, and artists who travel to America to present Auguste Rodin's allegorical bust, La France. The visitors are feted at major eastern cities, highlighted by an elaborate banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and formal greetings from the New York Chamber of Commerce.

Journey to the Champlain Valley The delegation travels north into the historic lake region to visit the sites selected for the permanent memorials. At the Crown Point Reservation, the French representatives formally place the bronze bust upon the base of the newly erected Champlain Memorial Lighthouse before touring nearby colonial ruins and proceeding to Plattsburgh.

Dedicatory ceremonies at Crown Point and Plattsburgh In July 1912, civic leaders, military officers, and citizens assemble for the official unveiling functions. Steamboats transport dignitaries across the lake for the formal acceptance of the Memorial Lighthouse by federal representatives, followed by the unveiling of the Champlain bronze statue overlooking Lake Champlain.

Retrospective on valley history and archæology The focus expands from contemporary celebrations to a historical and physical examination of the region. The text details critical military battles fought along the water, profiles prominent historical figures born in the area, and categorizes Native American stone, bone, and copper artifacts recovered from the shores.

The People

• Samuel de Champlain: The seventeenth-century French explorer whose 1609 navigation of the lake serves as the focal point for the entire commemoration. He is characterized as an exemplar of chivalry and scientific ambition whose early contacts with native tribes reshaped the continent's history.
• Auguste Rodin: The renowned French sculptor whose artistic contribution, the allegorical bust La France, serves as the physical centerpiece of the exchange between the two nations.
• Henry Wayland Hill: The Secretary of the New York Commission and primary editor of the report, who oversees the logistical execution of the ceremonies and offers artistic and philosophical commentary on the memorials.
• Gabriel Hanotaux: The leader of the visiting French delegation, who delivers diplomatic responses emphasizing the enduring historic bonds, mutual ideals, and shared military history between France and the United States.
• John A. Dix: The Governor of the State of New York, who leads the official state party during the July dedicatory exercises and formally presents the completed monuments to the public.

In Its Own Voice

"The allegorical bust, “La France,” a work of poetic symbolism, reveals something of the culture and the contemplative character and native resolution of that nation, which struggles and conquers..."

Commentary introducing the artistic significance of the Rodin sculpture presented by the French delegates.

"We won our independence, but in our self-gratulation, let us not forget the magnitude of the service, and the extent of our obligation to France."

Remarks by A. Barton Hepburn during the reception hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York.

"The lighthouse will be none the less useful to the mariner and will be vastly more valuable to the community because architect and sculptor have united to make it so attractive and interesting..."

An address framing the dual functional and aesthetic purpose of the Crown Point Memorial.

What It's Really About

At its core, the text uses historical commemoration as an instrument of early twentieth-century international diplomacy. By honoring Samuel de Champlain, the contributors aim to cement a lasting geopolitical alliance between the United States, France, and Great Britain. The speeches and essays consistently draw parallels between Champlain’s early exploratory courage and modern democratic progress, arguing that artistic monuments serve as vital public symbols of national ideals. Furthermore, the inclusion of local history and indigenous archaeology anchors these grand diplomatic gestures in the specific physical geography of the Champlain Valley, framing the region as a central cradle of North American civilization.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers interested in early twentieth-century civic planning, Franco-American diplomatic history, and regional New York heritage. Rather than offering a traditional narrative history, the text presents a primary-source snapshot of how Edwardian-era society organized grand public spectacles, expressed patriotism, and valued public art.

The reading experience reflects the official nature of a state legislative document. Prose styles range from the elevated, highly ornate rhetoric of formal after-dinner speeches to precise cataloging of military personnel, banquet guests, and archaeological specimens. The text contains dense lists of committee members, detailed itineraries, and transcriptions of diplomatic greetings, which can slow the pace for general readers. However, for those fascinated by the mechanics of international commemorations or the historical preservation of the Adirondack and Lake Champlain regions, it offers an authentic, unvarnished window into the cultural priorities of 1913.