Our History
And the effort to save Stevenson's home
Opened in 1916, the Cottage is the world's first site and finest collection dedicated to Stevenson. The all-volunteer museum needs donations to preserve the historic building and secure the institution's future.
And the effort to save Stevenson's home
Cost of Urgent repairs: $300,000
Full building restoration: $2 million
Museum History
From Stevenson to Today
1855
"Baker Cottage" is built
Built in 1855 by Col. Milote Baker, “Baker Cottage” was the primary residence of prominent early settlers and wilderness guides Andrew and Mary Baker for 58 years. Nearby Baker Mountain is named for them.
​Robert Louis Stevenson came to Saranac Lake for its new tuberculosis sanatorium. In Baker Cottage, he wrote some of his best essays, most of The Master of Ballantrae, and more. His improved health and earnings enabled the voyage that led him to Samoa.
1887
Stevenson heals at the Cottage
-1888
1894 -Stevenson dies in Samoa at 44.
Post-Stevenson
1915
The Stevenson Society is founded
1916
The museum opens
1925
The Stevenson Society buys the Cottage
1928
The Society pays off cottage mortgage
1930s
The Great Depression hits the Museum
1953
Village of Saranac Lake takes over and Delahant family begins service
1972
Cottage returns to the Stevenson Society
Mike Delahant becomes resident curator
1980
The museum receives repairs
2003
The Stevenson Society of America formed on October 30, 1915. Organizers included Associated Press founder Charles M. Palmer, William Morris of the namesake talent agency, and Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum.
Renting rooms from the Bakers, the Society opens the Stevenson Memorial Cottage as a museum: the world’s first site dedicated to the author. With donations from Stevenson’s circle, it receives a vast array of artifacts.
Following the deaths of the Bakers in 1924, The Stevenson Society purchases the cottage and appoints Mr. and Mrs. Charles Griffith as resident curators. They serve for 20 years.
With a gift from J.P. Morgan Jr., the Stevenson Society pays off the remaining debt on the cottage to own the property outright.
The Stevenson Society falls on hard times in the Great Depression. Plans for a permanent endowment fall through, and the Society lacks funds for needed building repairs.
The Village of Saranac Lake assumes ownership of the cottage. John F. Delahant Sr. and his wife Maude are appointed resident curators. Following John’s death in 1958, Maude served for another 20 years, and their son John “Jack” Delahant Jr. was named Society president.
The Village of Saranac Lake divests itself of the Stevenson Cottage, transferring ownership back to the Stevenson Society.
Mike Delahant begins his service as resident curator of the Stevenson Cottage. The Delahant family have cared for the cottage for more than 70 years. Mike has served for nearly half a century—longer than Stevenson’s life.
Leading Wall Street investor Albert Gordon pays for needed building improvements, including basement excavation, new concrete block foundation, and a new heating system.
The Effort Today
2023
Following many years of inactivity, the Stevenson Society of America forms a new board in November of 2023. Stevenson scholar Dr. Trenton B. Olsen is named president.
2024
The Stevenson Cottage is one of only 71 institutions in America to receive funding for an initial preservation assessment from the federal Institute of Museum and
Library Services. The report notes the cottage's “extre-mely poor condition” and “critical” restoration needs.
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2025
The Society replaces the failing cottage roof and begins other repairs through private fundraising with major gifts from John & Kiendl Gordon, David & Nancy LeSueur, and J.P. Hughes.
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The Society receives grants from the Preservation League of New York State for a building condition study and from Adirondack Architectural Heritage for
priority building repairs.
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​The Stevenson Cottage receives its first major artifact donations since 1948: Stevenson’s tea set, communion tokens from his grandfather's church, and the last of the wood from the schooner Equator, which he sailed to Samoa.
The Cottage Museum’s celebration of Stevenson’s 175th birthday is its largest and most successful event in a century.
2026
Top-priority repairs begin at the Stevenson Cottage, including rebuilding three chimneys, roof-related carpentry, structural repairs of the verandah, and
site drainage work.
Ongoing Repair Needs
The most urgent repairs (foundation, interior, masonry, upper-level carpentry, site drainage) will cost $3000,000. Full restoration of the cottage, built in 1855 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will cost approximately $2 million.
Donate at the link below or mail a donation to:
The Stevenson Society of America
44 Stevenson Lane, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
The Stevenson Society of America is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization: All donations are tax-deductible.
Before his Pacific adventure, Stevenson wrote from the cottage, “I will play big.” With your help, we too can play big: save a cultural treasure and finally fulfill the potential of one of the great literary sites in America.
Donate today and become part of the effort to save Stevenson's home.
Revitalizing a Community Treasure
Stevenson's 175th birthday celebration
Before roof repair
Co-sponsoring Pendragon Theatre's youth production of Treasure Island and hosting the cast at the cottage.
(organization) visits the cottage
Stevenson Family Communion Tokens
1825 communion tokens used by Stevenson's grandfather Rev. Lewis Balfour at Colinton Parish Church in Edinburgh. RLS played here as a child and set much of A Child's Garden of Verses here. Donated by Colinton Kirk.
Visit us to see the full collection