Prologue
Paul Smith’s Through the Years
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1859 - Apollos Smith Constructs Hotel
When Apollos A. “Paul” Smith and his wife Lydia built Paul Smith’s Hotel, the Adirondacks’ first wilderness resort was born. Drawing high-profile guests, including three U.S. presidents, the hotel featured 255 guest rooms, housing for 60 wilderness guides, a boathouse, a casino, and a bowling alley.
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1930 - The Hotel Burns Down
When Smith died in 1912, his son Phelps continued to operate the hotel until it was destroyed by a fire in 1930. By that time, the Paul Smith name adorned a railroad, a telephone company, and a regional electric company. Even the village that sprang up around the hotel was called Paul Smiths. (Nope, no apostrophe!)
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1937 - Phelps Smith Donates Money and Land
Phelps Smith died a wealthy man and bequeathed the bulk of his estate to the foundation of a college in his father’s name. Paul Smith’s College was established in 1937, and the original campus was built on the very same site as the former hotel.
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1946 - Paul Smith’s College Opens
The first co-educational class of 150 students entered in 1946. It was largely composed of WWII veterans and local high school graduates interested in studying forestry and resort management.
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Present - The Ultimate Higher Education Destination
The only baccalaureate-degree-granting institution in the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, Paul Smith’s College stands today as the ultimate higher education destination where outdoor adventure meets hands-on learning meets preservation of our planet.
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1859 - Apollos Smith Constructs Hotel
When Apollos A. “Paul” Smith and his wife Lydia built Paul Smith’s Hotel, the Adirondacks’ first wilderness resort was born. Drawing high-profile guests, including three U.S. presidents, the hotel featured 255 guest rooms, housing for 60 wilderness guides, a boathouse, a casino, and a bowling alley.
-
1930 - The Hotel Burns Down
When Smith died in 1912, his son Phelps continued to operate the hotel until it was destroyed by a fire in 1930. By that time, the Paul Smith name adorned a railroad, a telephone company, and a regional electric company. Even the village that sprang up around the hotel was called Paul Smiths. (Nope, no apostrophe!)
-
1937 - Phelps Smith Donates Money and Land
Phelps Smith died a wealthy man and bequeathed the bulk of his estate to the foundation of a college in his father’s name. Paul Smith’s College was established in 1937, and the original campus was built on the very same site as the former hotel.
-
1946 - Paul Smith’s College Opens
The first co-educational class of 150 students entered in 1946. It was largely composed of WWII veterans and local high school graduates interested in studying forestry and resort management.
-
Present - The Ultimate Higher Education Destination
The only baccalaureate-degree-granting institution in the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, Paul Smith’s College stands today as the ultimate higher education destination where outdoor adventure meets hands-on learning meets preservation of our planet.
Science in the Wild
Bearing the moniker “The College of the Adirondacks” is more than a badge of honor for us; it’s a profound responsibility.
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We Stand for a Better Tomorrow
All food waste in our culinary labs is composted, 100% of our electricity comes from local hydropower, and our faculty spearhead study trips to the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. This devotion for the grand challenge of our time permeates across our academic disciplines and extracurriculars.
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Paul Smith’s College Student Studies Road Salt Contamination In Wells
In her research, Morgan Hilliard discovered one local well with 12 times the federal health guidance maximum for safe sodium content for people on low-sodium diets.
Unity in Diversity
No matter their backstories, differences, and goals, students can be true to themselves here at Paul Smith’s.
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Nobody is Left out
Be it presenting a business plan with newfound confidence, competing on our woodsmen team, proudly sharing their artwork, or rock climbing for the first time, students “Smitty On” in the face of the unknown, and they do it together. In fact, nobody is left out, because here at Paul Smith’s, we’re all outsiders.
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For the Record: Uncovering the Stories of Black Pioneers
Explore the untold history of the Adirondack region in this compelling piece by Curt Stager, a professor of Natural Sciences at Paul Smith’s College.
This Place is Good For You
It’s not just the health of our natural world that matters. At Paul Smith’s, we care deeply about the physical, mental, and emotional health of our students.
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At Your Service
From the standard health services that colleges provide to our Peer Educators and Student Counseling Center Staff, Paul Smith’s has options and resources for all Smitties.
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New York's healing mountain village
Nearly 150 years ago, the nearby town of Saranac Lake became known for its “fresh air cure.”
Wild at Heart
Paul Smith’s College is a year-round academic paradise for students who want something different. (Where else do you learn canoe safety your first week at college?) You’ll hear us say this a lot: It’s about the experience.
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Only at Paul Smith’s
We’re the only campus in the U.S. with a student-run sawmill, Biathlon range, armory, and lumberjack sports arena. Oh, and home to over 14,000 acres to explore.
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Paul Smith’s College Featured on “Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins”
It’s not every day your college is featured on a National Geographic TV show, but Paul Smith’s sure was—episode 4, “Man of the Mountain.”