Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage — Attraction in Town of Saint Armand

A great introduction to a remarkable author whose works are still inspiring and entertaining many today. This small, quirky, but jam-packed memorial to Stevenson's short stay in upstate NY (only minutes from Lake Placid) provides a visitor with a terrific overview of RLS's life and works -- especially if you can get some time with the resident curator, Mike D, whose encyclopedic knowledge of Stevenson and the local area is buttressed by three generations of familial experience (his grandfather was one of the early members of the Stevenson Society in the USA). RLS books are still widely in print today, as well as adapted for the screen (even Disney and the Muppets have their own versions of Treasure Island!), but the author himself was also a fascinating character. Born in Scotland in 1850, he was an invalid for much of his life, and yet he wrote 13 novels, many dozens of short stories and essays, met everyone from Mark Twain to General Sherman, and traveled widely all over the world on foot, by donkey, and via sailing ship (he died in Samoa after many long voyages through the South Pacific). Since the cottage is manned only by a resident curator, it's wise to email or call before visiting to confirm hours and availability. Just reading through and viewing the exhibit materials will take over an hour....significantly more if you are lucky enough to get a personal tour from Mike, who deserves an Atlas Obscura...

The museum exists in a home rented by RLS and family for about a year of his life and contains a wealth of artifacts and memorabilia which are on display in the various rooms the author occupied when he came to Saranac Lake seeking relief for his chronic illness. We arrived without appointment and were met by the curator/resident who was engaging and extremely knowledgeable on the topic. This is a tiny museum and you will likely be the only guests present on your visit. For us, this was a special treat and a highlight of our trip. Mike the curator was essential to our very positive experience. Now to read some of the works of R.L.S. that I should have read a...

My husband and our friends visited the Saranac Lake Stevenson Museum on September 25th and truly enjoyed it. We learned so much about Stevenson and his life. We really enjoyed visiting the home he stayed in and the artifacts from his life on display. If all that wasn’t enough we had the honor of having Curator Mike guide us through the house and share an oral history of it with us. Mike’s genuine love of the Museum was evident. It was really a great visit and education for...