History
The mountain is named after former governor William L. Marcy, who authorized the environmental survey that explored the area including its highest peak, known at that time as Tahawus. "Tahawus" is an Indian word that means "cloud splitter;" the local Indians, however, actually had no name for this mountain - the name Tahawus was given to the mountain by white settlers of the area. The first recorded ascent of Mount Marcy was in August 5, 1837 by a large party led by Ebenezer Emmons. The party was looking for source of the East Fork of the Hudson River. Today the ascent is easier due to existing trails that require no technical skills, allowing ascent and descent to be made in a day. Vice President (and former governor) Theodore Roosevelt had just finished climbing Mount Marcy when he learned that President William McKinley, who had been shot in Buffalo but had apparently recovered, had taken a sudden turn for the worse and would not survive his wounds.
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