Aug 03, 2009 — Quadricentennial events continue all summer long in the Champlain Valley, celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival in the region. Brian Mann stopped by for the Essex Day celebration in the town of Essex on Saturday and he sent this audio postcard.  Go to full article

May 12, 2009 — This summer, Lake Champlain will be ringed with events - in New York, Vermont and Quebec. Towns along the shore will be celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of the arrival of French Explorer Samuel de Champlain. Champlain was the first European to reach the lake in 1609. Organizers hope to do more this summer than just throw a big party. Historians, writers and archeologists see the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial as a way to re-introduce what they see as a neglected landscape. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Oct 14, 2008 — Next year, marks the 400th Anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of the valley that now bears his name. After the voyage, the region saw bloody warfare and burgeoning international trade for more than 250 years. Then, in the calm that preceded the Civil War, military officers called for the construction of a lighthouse at Crown Point, NY. It's a critical spot where Lake Champlain narrows. The structure has taken on a life and historical significance far beyond its original intent. In 1909, thousands of people, including President William Taft and other heads of state, converged on Crown Point to celebrate the Champlain expedition's 300th Anniversary. The state Department of Environmental Conservation spent months refurbishing the lighthouse in hopes of staging another grand event next year. Chuck Vandrei is New York's historic preservation officer. He gave Jonathan Brown a tour of what is now known as the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse.  Go to full article

Jul 18, 2008 — Organizers of next year's 400th anniversary celebration on Lake Champlain say they're struggling to build momentum and funding for the event. Frenchman Samuel de Champlain was the first European explorer to reach the lake in 1609. As Todd Moe reports, historians and local activists hope to match big commemorations held in the past.  Go to full article