Five Millionth Visitor Welcomed at St. Lawrence-FDR Visitors Center
Contact Bob Hadler (315) 764-0226, Ext. 300 bob.hadler@nypa.gov
July 23, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MASSENA—When Justin Rufa, a senior at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and a native of Massena, and his family walked into the Visitors Center at the New York Power Authority’s St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project on Monday, it marked a major milestone for the popular North Country tourism destination—5 million visitors.
Justin and the Rufa family got another surprise when they were greeted and congratulated by Robert Hadler, the Power Authority's community relations manager for Northern New York. Hadler presented Justin with a gift commemorating the event.
"On behalf of the trustees and the staff at the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, we are delighted to welcome you as the 5 millionth guest to the Visitors Center," said Hadler. "It gives us a great opportunity to show the hospitality the North Country is famous for."
The St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project began producing electricity in 1958, the same year the Visitors Center opened. The Visitors Center was updated in the 1980s and received a major renovation in 2000. Since it opened, the center has averaged about 120,000 visitors a year.
The Visitor Center renovation in 2000 included over 40 new exhibits, many being computerized and/or hands-on displays to dramatize how electricity is made and used. There is also an audio-visual terrain map of the St. Lawrence Valley and a hand-carved wooden relief map tracing the routes of Jacques Cartier’s historic explorations. Two spectacular murals by famed American artist Thomas Hart Benton capture the spirit of Cartier’s early voyages. The observation deck, more than 100 feet above the St. Lawrence River, gives visitors breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountains, Canada and the power dam.
The admission-free Visitors Center is located off Route 37, just east of Massena. It is open year-round with some holiday closings. Hours and days vary according to season and admission is free.
For more information on the Visitors Center, please call 1-800-262-NYPA (6972) in New York or 1-315-764-0226, ext. 304, for out-of-state.
