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John Boyd Thacher Sate Park John Boyd Thacher State Park is perched above Altamont on the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world. Even as it safeguards six miles of limestone cliff-face, rock-strewn slopes, woodland and open fields, the park provides a marvelous panorama of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. The park has volleyball courts, playgrounds, ball fields and numerous picnic areas with nine reservable shelters. There are over twenty miles of trails for summer hiking and mountain biking, and winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and snowmobiling. Interpretive programs are offered year-round, including guided tours of the famous Indian Ladder Trail. The Indian Ladder Trail descends the cliff into a place of deep forests, caves, ancient fossils, wildflowers, and spring waterfalls. Along the trail’s cliff wall, a narrow cave provides cool relief on a hot summer day. At the bridge, an underground stream flows from the base of the cliff. In the springtime or after a hard rain, both Outlet and Minelot Falls cascade from the cliff top over the trail, crashing onto the rocks below. This rocky landscape is steeped in history. Long before Europeans arrived on the continent, Native Americans were traveling from the western hills of the Schoharie Valley to the Hudson River Valley by way of footpaths. When they reached the Helderberg Escarpment, they felled tall trees against the cliff wall and trimmed back the branches for easy climbing. Early settlers called those trees Indian ladders, and later, the trail was called the Indian Ladder Trail. In the early 1800s, when farmers settled in the hills, the trail became a road from the valley to the top of the cliff. In the late 1800s, the Helderbergs became a popular tourist destination. Visitors from the city, eager to escape the summer heat, hired buggies to bring them up to the resort hotels near the Helderberg lakes. Park visitors today still find refuge in this beautiful natural setting just minutes from Albany.
John Boyd Thacher was born in Ballston Spa, NY, on September 11, 1847. He was a renowned business man, author, historian and politician. He served for four years as mayor of Albany, and was elected state senator on the democratic ticket. Most of all he was a philanthropist who advocated all measures proposed for the benefit of workingmen and -women and donated large sums of money to charities. He established his summer residence in the Altamont region and gradually accumulated a large estate. His property there included the spring end of Thompson’s Lake, and a three and a half mile long ridge along the Helderberg escarpment. This ridge included areas of great natural interest and historic beauty, such as the Indian Ladder, Hale’s Cave, Tory’s Cave and Helm’s Crack. The picturesque area was left accessible to the public and organizations like the Albany Boys’ Club were encouraged to use it for their summer camp ground. John Boyd Thacher died on February 25, 1909 at the age of 62. His widow, Mrs. Emma Treadwell Thacher donated this beautiful land in 1914 to the people of the state to be dedicated as a public park. The public announcement of this generous gift was made by Governor Glynn in Albany on March 4, 1914, in the following speech to the legislature: "It is my happy privilege to inform the people of the state of New York, through your honorable body, of a voluntary gift to the people of the state of a tract of about three hundred and fifty acres of land in the town of New Scotland and Guilderland in the county of Albany, to be dedicated for the purpose of a public park. This tract embraces the famous 'Indian Ladder' section in the Helderbergs a few miles west of Albany. It has long been noted as one of the beauty spots of the state. Naturalists have agreed that there is found some of the grandest scenery in the state. We find numerous caves, great precipitous cliffs, waterfalls, and pine forests. The region is rich historically and around it cluster many legends of the original owners of the soil. To its natural wonders is added the charm of romance. Its rich scenery is not surpassed even in the Adirondacks, and the 'Ladder' itself looks more like a bit of the Rocky Mountains than a part of the Helderbergs. It is a veritable wonderland, and in my opinion this property will make the most picturesque park in the state of New York. This generous gift is inspired by a benevolence which cannot fail to receive the grateful appreciation of the people and will permit this area where peculiarly attractive natural scenery abounds, to be conserved and preserved for public enjoyment, subject only to such restrictions as make for the public pleasure. It is another evidence that the principle of conservation attempted to be made effective through enlightened legislation meets with a quick response by men and women, in generous gifts of their private resources to meet these desirable ends. This substantial response to public-spirited legislation is gratifying, and this notable gift will conspicuously contribute to the promotion of the health, happiness, education, and patriotism of the people of the present and future generations. This gift is the generous and patriotic action of Mrs. Emma Treadwell Thacher, of Albany, N. Y., widow of John Boyd Thacher.”
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