New York State Route 431
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 431 (NY 431) is a state highway
in Essex County, New York
, United States
. The highway, also known as the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, begins at an intersection with NY 86
in Wilmington
and climbs Whiteface Mountain
in the Adirondacks. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
maintains the highway, which is 7.96 miles (12.81 km) long.
Marcellus Leonard, a merchant from nearby Saranac Lake
, originally proposed the highway in the late 19th century. However, serious plans for the highway did not develop until the 1920s. Construction of the route began in 1929 and was completed in 1935; Leonard died six months before the opening. The 25 miles per hour (40.2 km/h) highway varies in elevation from over 2000 feet (610 m) to over 4500 feet (1,372 m) and increases in elevation by about 450 feet (137 m) per mile as it heads away from NY 86. The Whiteface Highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2008.
The Whiteface Highway, also known as NY 431, begins at an intersection with NY 86
in Wilmington
. The highway heads to the west, ascending in elevation as it approaches Whiteface Mountain
. It heads through a pass between Morgan and Esther Mountains, two smaller mountains adjacent to Whiteface Mountain, on its way to an intersection with County Route 72 (CR 72), the last highway that NY 431 intersects. Just west of CR 72, NY 431 passes through a toll booth and becomes a toll road
. The NY 431 designation continues along the highway to the Union Falls Overlook, a scenic view 2700 feet (823 m) in elevation about one mile (1.6 km) into the scenic drive. This overlook also allows viewing of Taylor Pond.
At this point, NY 431 curves to the south, climbing up the western side of both Esther Mountain
and Whiteface Mountain. Upon reaching 3300 feet (1,005.8 m) in elevation, a large building at the top of Whiteface Mountain called "The Castle" becomes visible, and Taylor Pond can be seen more clearly below. The scenic drive continues up Whiteface Mountain to its summit, which NY 431 ascends toward by way of a pair of hairpin turn
s just north of the peak. At the first of the turns, the highway reaches an overlook 3700 feet (1,127.8 m) in elevation that provides views of parts of Lake Placid
and the Olympic Village
. The road and the NY 431 designation both terminate at a parking lot about 300 feet (91.4 m) below the summit of Whiteface Mountain, where "The Castle" is located.
The idea of constructing a road up Whiteface Mountain
was first conceived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Marcellus Leonard, an entrepreneur from Saranac Lake
. The plans for the highway began to take shape in the 1920s when the land for the road was given by its owner to the state of New York
on the condition that it would be named after America's Great War
veterans. The road was later renamed to honor veterans from all wars. Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the dedication for the highway in 1929. There were plans to place a memorial tower at the top of Whiteface Mountain; however, the bill calling for its construction was vetoed in 1932 by Governor Herbert Henry Lehman.
Construction on the Whiteface Mountain Highway began in 1929. The road was to open in mid-1934, but was delayed a year. It finally opened to traffic on July 20, 1935. On September 14, 1935, it was formally dedicated by Roosevelt, now President of the United States
, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In all, the road cost $1.2 million to construct. President Roosevelt also requested that an elevator be constructed to help visitors from the parking lot to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Unfortunately, Marcellus Leonard, the person considered to be the "father" of the highway, did not live to see the highway open as he died at 90 years old on February 23, 1935, a few months before the road opened. The completed highway was assigned NY 431, a designation which had been reserved for the road as early as 1932.
The road was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in October 2008 as the "Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway Complex". The National Park Service
, which keeps the Register, announced the listing nine months later.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Essex County, New York
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The highway, also known as the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, begins at an intersection with NY 86
New York State Route 86
New York State Route 86 is a long state highway located within Adirondack Park in northern New York, United States, linking Franklin County to Essex County. The western terminus of the route is at NY 30 in the hamlet of Paul Smiths. The eastern terminus is at NY 9N in Jay...
in Wilmington
Wilmington, New York
Wilmington is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,131 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Wilmington, Delaware.The Town of Wilmington is on the county's north border and is southwest of Plattsburgh...
and climbs Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in New York State, and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Set apart from most of the other High Peaks, the summit offers a 360-degree view featuring the Adirondacks and perhaps on a clear day glimpses of Vermont and even Canada. The...
in the Adirondacks. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
maintains the highway, which is 7.96 miles (12.81 km) long.
Marcellus Leonard, a merchant from nearby Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
, originally proposed the highway in the late 19th century. However, serious plans for the highway did not develop until the 1920s. Construction of the route began in 1929 and was completed in 1935; Leonard died six months before the opening. The 25 miles per hour (40.2 km/h) highway varies in elevation from over 2000 feet (610 m) to over 4500 feet (1,372 m) and increases in elevation by about 450 feet (137 m) per mile as it heads away from NY 86. The Whiteface Highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2008.
Route description
New York State Route 86
New York State Route 86 is a long state highway located within Adirondack Park in northern New York, United States, linking Franklin County to Essex County. The western terminus of the route is at NY 30 in the hamlet of Paul Smiths. The eastern terminus is at NY 9N in Jay...
in Wilmington
Wilmington, New York
Wilmington is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,131 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Wilmington, Delaware.The Town of Wilmington is on the county's north border and is southwest of Plattsburgh...
. The highway heads to the west, ascending in elevation as it approaches Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in New York State, and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Set apart from most of the other High Peaks, the summit offers a 360-degree view featuring the Adirondacks and perhaps on a clear day glimpses of Vermont and even Canada. The...
. It heads through a pass between Morgan and Esther Mountains, two smaller mountains adjacent to Whiteface Mountain, on its way to an intersection with County Route 72 (CR 72), the last highway that NY 431 intersects. Just west of CR 72, NY 431 passes through a toll booth and becomes a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
. The NY 431 designation continues along the highway to the Union Falls Overlook, a scenic view 2700 feet (823 m) in elevation about one mile (1.6 km) into the scenic drive. This overlook also allows viewing of Taylor Pond.
At this point, NY 431 curves to the south, climbing up the western side of both Esther Mountain
Esther Mountain
Esther Mountain is a mountain located in Essex County, New York. The mountain is the northernmost of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and its 28th highest peak...
and Whiteface Mountain. Upon reaching 3300 feet (1,005.8 m) in elevation, a large building at the top of Whiteface Mountain called "The Castle" becomes visible, and Taylor Pond can be seen more clearly below. The scenic drive continues up Whiteface Mountain to its summit, which NY 431 ascends toward by way of a pair of hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s just north of the peak. At the first of the turns, the highway reaches an overlook 3700 feet (1,127.8 m) in elevation that provides views of parts of Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
and the Olympic Village
Olympic Village
An Olympic Village is an accommodation centre built for an Olympic Games, usually within an Olympic Park or elsewhere in a host city. Olympic Villages are built to house all participating athletes, as well as officials, athletic trainers, and other staff. Since the Munich Massacre at the 1972...
. The road and the NY 431 designation both terminate at a parking lot about 300 feet (91.4 m) below the summit of Whiteface Mountain, where "The Castle" is located.
History
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in New York State, and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Set apart from most of the other High Peaks, the summit offers a 360-degree view featuring the Adirondacks and perhaps on a clear day glimpses of Vermont and even Canada. The...
was first conceived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Marcellus Leonard, an entrepreneur from Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
. The plans for the highway began to take shape in the 1920s when the land for the road was given by its owner to the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on the condition that it would be named after America's Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans. The road was later renamed to honor veterans from all wars. Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the dedication for the highway in 1929. There were plans to place a memorial tower at the top of Whiteface Mountain; however, the bill calling for its construction was vetoed in 1932 by Governor Herbert Henry Lehman.
Construction on the Whiteface Mountain Highway began in 1929. The road was to open in mid-1934, but was delayed a year. It finally opened to traffic on July 20, 1935. On September 14, 1935, it was formally dedicated by Roosevelt, now President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In all, the road cost $1.2 million to construct. President Roosevelt also requested that an elevator be constructed to help visitors from the parking lot to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Unfortunately, Marcellus Leonard, the person considered to be the "father" of the highway, did not live to see the highway open as he died at 90 years old on February 23, 1935, a few months before the road opened. The completed highway was assigned NY 431, a designation which had been reserved for the road as early as 1932.
The road was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in October 2008 as the "Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway Complex". The National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, which keeps the Register, announced the listing nine months later.
Major intersections
See also
- Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial HighwayProspect Mountain Veterans Memorial HighwayThe Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway is a parkway located in the town of Lake George, New York. The road is long, starting at the U.S. Route 9 and New York State Route 9N concurrency and ending at the peak of Prospect Mountain...
, a highway of the same type in the Adirondacks