From Sunday, July 4, 1909 to Saturday, July 10, 1909, a bi-state celebration was hosted by New York and Vermont to commemorate the discovery of Lake Champlain by Samuel de Champlain in 1609. Samuel Champlain was the founder of Quebec, the discover of Lake Champlain, the explorer of the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario, and of the Ottawa River to its source, and he was the first white man to reach the Georgian Bay. This report, submitted by the Celebration Commission to the New York Assembly, describes in detail the events of this celebration. Sections of the report containing the important historical speeches and papers are included on this web site.

Portrait of Samuel de Champlain

Title Page From the Celebration Commission's Report to the NY Legislature September 11, 1911

Table of Contents

PART ONE: PREPARATION

1. Historical Introduction: The Strife for Control 
   A short history of 200 years of armed conflict on Lake Champlain.

2. Evolution of the Champlain Celebration Project

3. Report of the First Lake Champlain Tercentenary Commission

4. Federal Recognition and Aid
5. Legislation and Organization

6. Work of the New York Commission

APPENDIX

1. Samuel Champlain and the Lake Champlain Tercentenary   A description of the life of Samuel Champlain, the discovery of Lake Champlain, and his battle with the Iroquois.

2. The Geology of the Champlain Valley
3. Episodes in the History of the Champlain Valley
4. What Early Travelers Said of the Champlain Valley
5. Libretto of the Play of Hiawatha

PART TWO: CELEBRATION

Monday, July 5: At Crown Point Forts

• Sham Battle (re-enactment); Interval for lunch.
• Salute by the United States Naval Flotilla to the Governors of New York and Vermont.
• Indian Pageants, under the leadership of L.O. Armstrong, by the Descendants of the Native Tribes occupying the Champlain Valley.
• A Brief Address by Governor Charles E. Hughes.
• Historical Address by Hon. Seth Low of New York, "The Celebration at Crown Point"
• Historical Address by Judge Albert C. Barnes of Chicago, "A History of Crown Point".
• An Original Poem, entitled, “Song for the Tercentenary of Lake Champlain,” by Clinton Scollard of Clinton, N. Y.
• Evening parade; Indian Pageants; Fireworks.

• Departure of Special Guest Train from Albany over the D. & H. RR for Ticonderoga and Plattsburgh.
• Review of 10th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., by Governors Hughes and Prouty.
• Sham Battle (re-enactment) along Old French Lines.
• Lunch to Guests on Steamer Ticonderoga.
• Literary Exercises at Grand Stand, including brief addresses by Vice-President James S. Sherman, Governor Charles E. Hughes of New York, and Governor George H. Prouty of Vermont.
• Historical Address, entitled, “The Story of Lake Champlain,” by Dr. Hamilton W. Mabie of New York. A history of Lake Champlain
• An Original Ballad, entitled, “Ticonderoga.” by Percy MacKaye of Cornish, New Hampshire.
• Salute to the President of the United States, by the United States Naval Flotilla, and addresses by President Taft and other distinguished guests.
• Departure of Presidential Party, Governors Hughes and Prouty, Commissions and invited guests.
• Indian Pageants; Interval far Supper; Indian Pageants; Fireworks.

• Address by the President at Cliff Haven.
• Indian Pageants at Mouth of Saranac River, Plattsburgh.
• Private Reception by the President to the Representatives of Foreign Governments and Members of the New York Legislature at Hotel Champlain.
• Special Train, Hotel Champlain for Plattsburgh Barracks.
• Parade and Review of Military, Civic and Fraternal Organizations at Plattsburgh Barracks.
• Literary Exercises at Plattsburgh Barracks, including brief addresses by President William Howard Taft; The Hon. J. J. Jusserand, the French Ambassador; Rt. Hon. James Bryce, the British Ambassador; Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada; Speaker Joseph G. Cannon, Governors Hughes and Prouty.
• A Formal Historical Address, entitled “The Iroquois and the Struggle for America,” by the Hon. Elihu Root. U. S. Senator from New York.
• An Original Poem, entitled, “Champlain and Lake Champlain,” by Daniel L. Cady of New York.
• Evening Parade at Plattsburgh Barracks.
• Indian Pageants at Mouth of Saranac River, Plattsburgh.
• Banquet to the President at Hotel Champlain, with post-prandial speeches by the President, Vice-President, and distinguished guests.
• Fireworks at Mouth of Saranac River, Plattsburgh.

• Presidential Party, Ambassadors, State Commissions and invited Guests leave Hotel Champlain by Steamer for Burlington where they arrive at 10.00 A. M., and are escorted from King Street Wharf to City Hall Park by Vermont Division of National Guard, Col. J. Gray Estey commanding.
• Literary Exercises in City Hall Park, Gov. G. H. Prouty presiding. Prayer. Rt. Rev. Arthur C. A. Hall, D.D., Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont; Welcome to Vermont, Gov. George H. Prouty; Welcome to Burlington. the Hon. James E. Burke, Mayor; Remarks, Gov. Charles E. Hughes of New York; Address, Rt. Hon. James Bryce, British Ambassador; Remarks. M. Jusserand, French Ambassador; Remarks, the Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada.; An Original Poem, by Bliss Carman; Remarks, the Hon. William H. Taft. President of the United States;
• Review of Parade by Presidential Party, Foreign Guests, and Governors Hughes and Prouty.
• Luncheon to Presidential Party and Ambassadorial and Official Guests at the Ethan Allen Club by His Excellency Gov. Prouty of Vermont.
• Luncheon to New York State Legislature at the Gymnasium Building, University of Vermont.
• Indian Pageants, including the Indian Drama, “Hiawatha,” at water front.
• Departure of New York Legislative Guests for Plattsburgh. P. M. Inspection of the City by the Presidential Party and Foreign Guests.
• Banquet at University Gymnasium, with full post-prandial features, including a speech by President Taft.
• Indian Pageants, including the Indian Drama, “Hiawatha,” at water front.

• Presidential. Ambassadorial and Official Parties leave Burlington via Steamer Ticonderoga. Joined by New York State Commission and Guests at Plattsburgh en route for Isle La Motte.
• Departure of Special New York Legislative Guest Train from Hotel Champlain for Albany, N. Y.
• Solemn High Mass Sung by Right Reverend Thomas M. A. Burke. Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, N.Y.
• Literary Exercises, Gov. George H. Prouty presiding: Prayer. Rev. John M. Thomas, D. D., President of Middlebury College; Welcome to Vermont. Governor George H. Prouty.
  Welcome to Isle La Motte, by Senator Henry W. Hill of Buffalo.
  Remarks, Gov. Charles E. Hughes of New York; An Original Poem, by Prof. John Erskine of Columbia University.
  Address by Hon. Wendell P. Stafford, Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.
  Chorus, St. Albans Choral Union; Benediction, Rev. John M. Thomas, D. D.
• Dedication of Boulder in Memory of Col. Seth Warner and Capt. Remember Baker by the Patriotic Women of Vermont.
• Indian Pageants.
• Departure of Presidential Party and Distinguished Guests for Plattsburgh. NY, and Burlington, Vt.
• Indian Pageants; Fireworks.

• Water Carnival, consisting of motor-boat and canoe races and other aquatic sports, at Rouse’s Point, NY
• Unveiling of a Tablet to the Memory of the Soldiers of the War of 1812, on the main building of the University of Vermont, which was used as barracks for the troops in the second war against Great Britain, at Burlington, Vt.

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