Mount Ut-Say-An-Tha

Mount Utsayantha, which got its name from the legend of a local Indian maiden, Utsayantha – which means "beautiful spring", is located just southeast of the Village of Stamford, NY, along the eastern edge of Delaware County at the intersection of Routes 10 and 23.

In 1882 a carriage road and a wooden observation tower were constructed on top of the mountain, and were opened to the public on July 4th of that year. In 1889, nearly 20 acres of the summit was purchased by Dr. S.E. Churchill – one of Stamford's prominent leaders of the time – and deeded to the Village of Stamford upon his death in 1917. During Stamford's heyday, it was known as the "Queen of the Catskills" boasting many hotels and boarding houses for the summer tourists. A carriage ride to the top of Utsayantha Mountain was a favorite activity, and in 1924 alone over 6,000 visitors were recorded at the summit.

The view from the Tower is magnificent. On a clear day one can see the peaks of the Catskill Mountains, the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and the peaks of the Adirondacks, and of course the breathtaking view of Stamford. Over the years there has been a series of observations towers at the top of the mountain. The existing observation building was dedicated in June of 1926. In 1934 the State erected a 68-foot steel fire tower that was manned by observers until 1989 when it was officially closed by the NYS Dept. EnCon. The road to the summit and the steel fire tower are currently open to the public, and the park is being developed and restored.

The Marker is located at the intersection of Main Street (Route 23) and Mountain Ave. in Stamford. (The road changes names as it leaves the village limits to "Tower Mounatin Road")

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