Historic Preservation at Great Camp Sagamore
Sagamore needs your help to raise $150,00 by May 31!
Built deep in the Adirondack mountains 127 years ago by visionary great camps designer William West Durant, Great Camp Sagamore is America’s most significant, intact, and publicly accessible Gilded Age Great Camp.
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations from our community to keep this 27-building campus maintained, thriving, and open to the public.
We appreciate your help in raising $150,000 by May 31 of the our $441,029 goal!
An anonymous donor will generously match the next $50,000 raised towards this May 31 goal.
We need your help to get there!
As of April 28, we have raised $41,990! Thank you!
This means we are just $8,010 away from making the match and have $108,010 left towards our May 31 goal.
2024 Historic Preservation Projects
Preservation projects in 2024 focus on six buildings critical to visitors’ experiences that showcase Sagamore’s exceptional architecture. Learn about work needed to preserve these buildings and their uses below!
In case you missed it, enjoy this recording of our Community Zoom on April 23. During the Zoom, Ted, Sagamore’s Facilities director & Head Caretaker, shares more about these projects and our progress.
Main Lodge and Dining Hall
Built in 1897 as W.W. Durant's first two structures at Sagamore, the iconic Main Lodge and Dining Hall are the central gathering places at Camp.
PRESERVATION WORK NEEDED:
Restore the historic features of four chimneys
Upgrade the electrical infrastructure in historic staff housing
Alfred’s and Gloria’s Cabins
Constructed by Margaret Emerson for her children as they came of age, Alfred’s (c. 1937) and Gloria’s (c. 1939) lakeside cabins are now favorite accomodations for families and couples.
PRESERVATION WORK NEEDED:
Upgrade electrical infrastructure
Restore railings and stairs with bark-on cedar logs
Wigwam Cabin
Built in 1901 as lodging for Alfred's unmarried male guests and men who came without their wives, Margaret doubled its size in 1915 to accommodate even more guests. Today, guests sleep in the original poster beds, and the cabin is a popular stop on the Historic Tour.
PRESERVATION WORK NEEDED:
Replace railings with bark-on cedar logs and repair stairs
The Boathouse
Built in 1897, guests use Sagamore's historic Boathouse daily for adventures on Sagamore Lake.
PRESERVATION WORK NEEDED:
Complete the restoration with bark-on cedar columns and bracing
The Playhouse
Designed by William Coulter in 1901, Alfred built for his family and guests what he referred to as the Casino. Margaret later renamed it the Playhouse, and today's guests gather here for concerts, conferences, and a variety of programs.
PRESERVATION WORK NEEDED:
Restore Sagamore's most magnificent fireplace
Repair two walls of the building's foundation and upgrade drainage
Commission a cultural landscape report for the area around the Playhouse
Your past contributions have been instrumental in completing restoration projects that make Camp a vital cultural resource.
To Contribute Directly from your Donor Advised Fund or Stock Holdings
EIN Number: 23-7401872
Firm Name: NFS LLC
DTCC: 0226
Account Name: Sagamore Institute, Inc
Account Number: k4k-130626