John Brown's Farm
- North Elba, NY
 In 1848, John
Brown traveled to Peterboro to introduce himself to Gerrit Smith. Brown had
heard of Smith's Adirondack land grants to poor black men, and proposed to
relocate his family among the new settlers. His plan was to establish a farm
where he could provide guidance and assistance to those who were attempting to
establish communities in the area.
Smith accepted the proposal, and agreed to sell Brown a piece of property
for $1 per acre, which was paid off in November 1849. Brown actually spent
little time at the farm, as his attentions were soon distracted by the conflict
that had broken out in Kansas, between pro- and anti-slavery forces. He did
make occasional visits, however, up to the time of his raid on
Harper's Ferry.
 After his execution,
Brown's wife returned his body to the farm for burial. The
tombstone of Brown's ancestor, also named Capt. John
Brown was inscribed with his name, as well as those of his sons who died at
Harper's Ferry. Little else was added to the grave site for many years later.
In later years the graves of twelve of Brown's men were relocated to the site, a
picket fence was erected, and still later the high iron fence that stands at
present. The boulder was subsequently (around 1900) inscribed with Brown's name
and the years of his birth and death. Plaques were added, memorializing Brown
and his men, and the women of the Brown family, for their sacrifices in the
cause of freedom.
 Since 1895, the
farm has been owned by New York State, and is maintained and staffed by the
Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. It is a popular
tourist stop on the edge of Lake Placid, and recently celebrated 100 years as a
State Historic Site. The outdoor interpretive displays provide photographs and
descriptions of the men who joined in the raid on Harper's Ferry. The fate of
each man is also described. While the interpretation offered is blunt, nothing
at the site implies criticism of Brown or his motives.
Many of the later improvements to the memorial, including a heroic statue of
Brown walking with his arm around the shoulders of a young African-American boy,
were financed by a John Brown Memorial Association, no longer in existence. The
preservation of the house and barn is managed by the state, which has also
restored the house to its condition circa 1859. Some of the original
furnishings remain, and other period pieces have been added to provide visitors
a reasonable sense of the accommodations at the time it was occupied by Brown's
family.
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