Welcome to the Adirondack Exhibit Center
The Adirondack Exhibit Center is located in the hamlet of Star Lake, New York in the western foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The AEC is the culmination of ten years of the volunteer efforts of community members who wanted to save and repurpose the old deteriorating Star Lake schoolhouse, originally built in 1892. After renovations, inside and out, the building is now used as a meeting hall for local groups, a place where local artisans can display their work, and as a classroom for various workshops.
In 2005, the Town of Fine, owners of the building, reached out to the community and the Save Our Schoolhouse Committee was formed, comprised of interested volunteers, both year-'round and summer residents. Fund-raising began as did the work and today, the Center is fully operational. It has operated for the past several years now with a full summer schedule of events, exhibits, and community activities.
Permanent exhibits include a north country railroad display created by the Western Adirondack Railroad Modelers Club and a display by the Five Ponds Wilderness Club. Summer events include displays of photography, jewelry and rustic Adirondack furniture. The Center has provided a place for local school students to showcase their artwork and for local artisans to display their crafts from basket weaving to watercolor displays to decorative plate workshops.
The Adirondack Exhibit Center is largely supported by donations of time, money and effort. A major fundraiser, the annual SOS 5K walk/run event, followed by a pie and ice cream social generates funds for the operation and maintenance of the Center. It also provides the community with a great weekend, usually the first Sunday in August.
So, if you are driving east or west on State Route 3, which traverses the Adirondacks, stop in and see the Center, located in down-town Star Lake. And, perhaps you will spend some time in this great area, getting to know the lake, some great people and the surrounding communities, each with their unique identities. Stop in to visit, explore, and stay a while!