Rooted in Glens Falls History and Local Legacy
If you’ve stood in The Queensbury Hotel lobby, chances are you’ve paused beneath one of its most iconic features, a sweeping mural that has watched over generations of guests, gatherings, and memories in downtown Glens Falls.
The 13.5-foot by 10-foot mural depicts a scene from The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper and remains a defining piece of the hotel’s historic character. Originally commissioned nearly 100 years ago for the hotel’s opening in 1926, the mural was created by Griffith Baily Coale, an internationally recognized artist known for his work as a muralist, illustrator, and later as one of the U.S. Navy’s first active-duty combat artists.
The project was initiated by a committee of local businessmen who developed The Queensbury Hotel, selecting Coale to create a landmark piece that would reflect the region’s deep literary and cultural ties. The artwork itself is based on an illustration from a historic Glens Falls Insurance Company calendar, and Coale completed preparatory sketches of the area while studying the landscape surrounding Cooper’s Cave.
Over the decades, the mural has remained a centerpiece of the lobby, even as the hotel has evolved through multiple renovations. The mural continues to hold its place today. When Ed Moore and Spruce Hospitality purchased the hotel in 2016, Erin Coe, the former director of The Hyde Collection, advised on the care of the piece of artwork and had confirmed the mural was in “very sturdy condition,” — a testament to both its original craftsmanship and the care it has received over time.
2026 – Now, nearly a century after its creation, the mural is undergoing careful restoration, cleaning and preservation work led by Emily Phillips of Phillips Art Conservation. It is believed the piece has not undergone a full restoration since the 1970s or earlier, making this current work an important step in ensuring its long-term preservation. Phillips, who went through the rigorous art conservation master’s program at Buffalo State University, one of only three such programs in the country, works full-time as a freelance painting conservator, undertaking federal contracts with the National Parks Service and working for private clients.
As restoration continues, the mural remains more than just a work of art. It is a living piece of Glens Falls history, connecting the hotel’s origins in 1926 to the present day, and preserving a story that continues to resonate with every guest who passes through the lobby.
We look forward to sharing more as this preservation work progresses and to welcoming guests to experience this historic landmark for years to come!
