10. Gouverneur
Gouverneur is a village of about 4,000 in the southwest corner of St. Lawrence County. The village was established as a summer town of Gouverneur Morris, the author of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and New York Senator from 1800 to 1803. Shortly after the town was established, many flocked to the area to mine marble, eventually giving Gouverneur the nickname “Marble Village.” The First Presbyterian Church was one of the largest structures built in the village, with parts constructed from local marble.
Though not very touristy, Gouverneur features a picturesque enormous roll of Pep-O-Mint Life Savers, developed by village native Edward Noble. The factory was located in Port Chester, Westchester, but the giant candy monument was given to Gouverneur, where it is now displayed in the town center. Also photo-worthy is the village’s Memorial Arch, built in 1905 with the engraved phrase “Lest We Forget.” In addition to visiting the Gouverneur Museum, visitors can dine at Casa Blanca Restaurant or New York Pizzeria.
Next, check out The Abandoned Fort at Crown Point State Historic Site on Lake Champlain!