Steamboats made their first appearance on Lake George in 1817. During April of that year, a company was incorporated by the New York State Legislature to operate commercial shipping on Lake George. The name of that company? The one and only Lake George Steamboat Company! The first Steamboat was named “James Caldwell” and could make it across Lake George in 8 hours. As time progressed, steam technology and ship building practices allowed for the building of larger and faster wooden hulled ships. (The Mohican currently makes it across in under 3 hours!)
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In 1947, Captain Wilbur Dow, a lawyer from NYC, acquired the Steamboat Company. He brought a World War II vessel onto the lake in three separate pieces, and converted her to passenger service as the Ticonderoga in 1950. He then built out the Steel Pier in Lake George Village in 1954, to the boundaries of the company’s land grant from King George III of England. He renovated the Mohican in 1967, built the Minne-Ha-Ha in 1969 and, following an eleven-year construction effort, placed the Lac du Saint Sacrement in service in 1989. Those 3 vessels are the Vessels you see today, and The Lake George Steamboat Company has been running now for 200 years!
There is a longer, more extensive history behind Lake George and it's Steamboats, but we suggest you learn about it yourself when you board your choice of boat this summer for a cruise!
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Each boat has it’s own history, and you can learn more about the Sac Du Sacrament, Minne Ha-Ha and Mohican on the Lake George Steamboat Company website, along with their past Vessels such as the “Ticonderoga”, and the “James Caldwell”! Or while aboard for a ride, you can hear the captain tell you a little about the history behind each boat (depending on which of the 3 you pick!)
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These days, people book events like weddings, tours, school trips, charters, and more with The Lake George Steamboat Company, because these Steamboats make a unique and fun place for any event!
There are also super fun Themed Cruises like the “Minne Pirate Cruise”, The “Mohican Family Dinner Cruise” (That serves a different type of dinner each night), the “Sunday Brunch Cruise”, and MORE!
Their website also has a calendar with specialty cruises and events for each year. Check out this year’s events and cruises!
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It was a beautiful sunny day, hot enough to where the breeze felt great as the boat left the dock and started cruising. The 1-Hour Mohican Cruise took us on a tour of Lake George’s Southern Basin. We saw views of the Adirondack Mountains, and some beautiful homes and resorts on the water’s edge. The cruise included Captain Narration, and we learned fun facts and history as we passed summer camps, restaurants, resorts, Lake George’s “Million Dollar Beach”, and even a couple of Islands!
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Inside was a Snack Bar & Grill, as well as a Cocktail Bar for adults. There are family photo opportunities right as you board the ship, that you can later purchase after the cruise.
We grabbed a bomb-pop for Liam and a couple of Creamsicles for us from the Snack Bar.
The first deck is Handicap Accessible to encourage inclusion, both men and women’s bathrooms are easy to find inside the boat, strollers are welcome, and no smoking allowed.
Passengers are reminded not to throw any garbage into the Lake, as it remains one of the cleanest bodies of water in Upstate NY!
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The great thing about The Lake George Steamboat Company, is that there is a cruise for every mood!
You can do a short 1-hour trip like we did, or plan a Luncheon Cruise on the Lac Du Saint Sacrament. There are also Dinner Cruises on the Mohican and Lac Du Saint. Not to mention the themed cruises on the Minne Ha-Ha.
So book your tickets today! The Lake George Steamboat Company is an essential part of the Lake George and Adirondacks experience!
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