Explore Historic Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown, originally known as Pleasant Valley, was established in 1798 along the Boquet River and named by William Gilliland for his wife and daughter, Elizabeth. Early settlers, mainly Revolutionary War veterans, relied on farming, lumbering, and iron mining. The town flourished with mills and forges, and its role as the county seat attracted lawyers who built impressive homes. After the Civil War, tourism became a key industry, with visitors seeking the fresh mountain air.

Today, Elizabethtown remains a vibrant community, home to the county courthouse and rich historical architecture. Elizabethtown is also home to the Adirondack History Museum and the Hand House!