Adirondack Mountains Lake Placid

In 1925, the New York Central Railroad launched its “art poster” campaign, in which landscapes and urban scenes dominated the overall compositions. Walter Greene’s Adirondack poster illustrates the archetypal vacation setting replete with abundant nature, grand scenery, serenity, and the opportunity for sporting activities. The poster sold a state of mind—a state of contented wellbeing—as much as it advertised train travel. By the late 1920s, more Americans than ever before had the time and the economic means to enjoy a summer vacation at destinations like Lake Placid. But by the time the poster debuted in 1930, the Great Depression curtailed vacation plans for many Americans.