Best Museums in Lake Placid

Once a vacation destination for the rich and famous from New York, Lake Placid gained international recognition and is best known as the host of the Winter Olympics, twice! A walking tour of the village of Lake Placid and shorelines of Mirror Lake uncovers historic homes and buildings that survived the “Main Street Fire of 1919”, statues and sculptures depicting the past, and Olympic legacy sites that honor the rich winter sports history and heritage of Lake Placid, NY.

Lake Placid Olympic Museum

2634 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY

Explore the legacy and history of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum in the Olympic Center on Main Street. Open daily to the public, the Olympic Museum inspires all ages with multi-media exhibits and a vast collection of Olympic medals, memorabilia, and ski history artifacts. Continue your journey through Olympic history with a spin on a historic indoor skating arena or a session at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, ski jumping at the Olympic Jumping Complex, bobsledding at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, or cruising the Olympic slopes on Whiteface Mountain. A trip to the Adirondacks is not complete without exploring the world-famous Lake Placid Legacy Sites.

Lake Placid Center for the Arts

17 Algonquin Drive, Lake Placid, NY

Tucked away near the waterfront of Paradox Bay only minutes from Main Street, the Lake Placid Center for the Arts is a world-class year-round performing and visual arts facility, and the heart and soul of the creative communities in the Adirondacks. Visitors can experience world-class live performances in music, theater, and dance in the intimate 355-seater theater (or under the summer stars!), exceptional rotating visual art exhibits in the gallery, year-round arts & culture events, and creative classes and camps for all ages and skill levels.

Wild Center

45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake, NY

Formerly known as the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, the Wild Center in Tupper Lake is a top Lake Placid attraction to discover the beauty and history of nature in the Adirondacks. Set on a peaceful pond with a waterside cafe, the Wild Center features indoor exhibits, nature programs, animal encounters, and outdoor experiences for all ages. Outside the Wild Center, there’s a wonderful wild play area for kids, canoe trips on the Raquette River’s Oxbow, larger-than-life steel and stickwork sculptures, wheelchair-accessible nature trails with forest music, and Wild Walk – a trail of bridges through the treetops of the Adirondack forest. The wonderful Wild Center is a must-do attraction in the Adirondacks!