Do you know how Fillmore Glen State Park got its name? The park was named after President Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States and founding member of the University of Buffalo. The president grew up in a small log cabin that was located close to where the park is now. There’s a full scale replica of the log cabin on the park property. President Fillmore grew up in poverty on a 130 acre farm that his father leased. He later became a school teacher, law clerk, and studied to pass the bar exam. Fillmore was Vice President to President Zachary Taylor and became President when Taylor died in office in 1850. (Fun fact: President Fillmore didn’t have a Vice President during his entire term in office.) President Fillmore is known for being the last Whig Party president in office and the only to not to die or be expelled from the party while in office. He also is one of only five presidents in history not to receive his party’s nomination while seeking reelection.
Regardless of his current place looking back in presidential history, in 1925 the state acquired the land and established Fillmore Glen State Park. In the mid 30’s during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps added beautiful stone walkways and bridges throughout this and many other parks throughout New York State.