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The semiquincentennial (250 years) of the United States is being celebrated widely in 2026. The year also happens to mark the bicentennial of the publication of "The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757," the second novel, and arguably the most famous, of the five "Leather Stocking Tales" by James Fenimore Cooper. The publication of the book was first announced on 4 February 1826. There have been numerous retellings of the story over the years, in differing versions and genres. Several motion-pictures have been produced, from a silent-film in 1920 to the major Hollywood movie released in theaters in 1992.
One of the most memorable scenes of the story, near the conclusion of the tumultuous tale, takes place in a cave in eastern New York, along the agonizing journey of the protagonists from Lake George to the Albany area. James Fenimore Cooper visited an existing small cave on an island in the Hudson River at what is now Glens Falls, New York. The cave and surrounding waterfalls inspired him to include those as dramatic backdrops during the final conflicts of the story.
Cooper's Cave in Saratoga County is real, a 50-feet-long natural passage that can be visited. Over the years, much of its lore has appeared in notable commemorative art, postcards, and various memorabilia. This small cave remains an integral part of the lore, culture, and tourism of Glens Falls.
Ernst H. Kastning, PhD