We all know Lake Placid’s connection to the Winter Olympics, but if it wasn’t for the country hosting this year’s Summer Olympics, Lake Placid’s story might be much different.

It was 100 years ago, in France, when the first Winter Olympic Games were held.

What You Need To Know

  • The very first Winter Olympic Games were held in France, 100 years ago in 1924

  • Those in Lake Placid at the time saw what was happening in France and built what was needed to host the Games eight years later

  • Lake Placid not only was home to the very first winter gold medalist, but has also had at least one athlete compete in every Winter Olympics since

“[The year] 1924 marks the first Winter Olympic Games. It took place in Chamonix, France,” Lake Placid Olympic Museum Director Courtney Bastian said.

It was 100 years ago that 258 athletes from 16 countries came together.

“Before 1924, winter sport was viewed as something for very small groups of people, perhaps elite, very small parts of the world. By the Olympics happening, it opened up winter sport to the world,” Olympic Regional Development Authority Communications Manager Lisa Carter said.

The history is captured in Lake Placid’s new Olympic Museum.

“In front of us, here we have Charles Jewtraw. He was a Lake Placid local and he competed at the first Winter Olympic Games,” Bastian said as she looked at a photo on the museum wall.

He not only competed, he won the first gold medal ever awarded at a Winter Games.

“So, here we have the Lake Placid Club,” Bastian said as a tour of the museum continued.

Built in 1895, the Lake Placid Club was co-founded by Melvil Dewey — best known for the Dewey decimal system used in libraries. The club was originally a summer spot, but by 1924, it had a real focus on winter sport.

“Melvil Dewey’s son Godfrey Dewey was really inspired by what was happening internationally,” Bastian said.

So much so, in fact, that the Deweys built the club up with a focus on 1932, the third Olympic Games, which it bid on and won. Lake Placid has been a part of every Winter Games since.

“There's been 25 Winter Olympic Games, and we've had athletes who have been at high enough level of skill to be able to go to compete at those Winter Olympic Games,” Bastian said.

This year, the Summer Olympics are in Paris.

As Olympics go, without 1924, there is not a 1932. Without a 1932, there is likely not a 1980.

“Yeah, I think it's really beautiful,” Carter added. “Legacy cities can stay alive and stay meaningful."

Museum staff say they have and will host a number of events to celebrate the Summer games and the connection to Lake Placid.