Around 2,000 visitors chose the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid as their viewing spot for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, according to the state Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the venue that hosted speedskating events during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. This was also the site of the stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, speedskating races and some of the hockey matches during the 1932 Olympic Winter Games. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

Members of the Gucciardi family from Philadelphia admire the beginning of the solar eclipse together at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Monday, April 8. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

Steven, left, and Jason Burkenfeld watch the solar eclipse in beach chairs at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Monday, April 8. The father-son duo traveled to Lake Placid from Long Island to watch the eclipse. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

The Lake Placid Olympic Center's lights came on for the more than three minutes of totality during the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

A family takes a group selfie in their solar eclipse glasses at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Monday, April 8. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

Mark Eppley, left, and Jon Knapp, both from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pose with a snowman they built at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid while waiting for the total solar eclipse to begin on Monday, April 8. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

A snowman protects his eyes from the rays of the sun with a pair of eclipse glasses at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Monday, April 8. During the wait for totality, around a dozen snowmen sprung up from the snow dumped during last week’s nor’easter. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

When totality arrived at the Olympic Speedskating Oval on Monday, April 8, a hush fell over the crowd, save for some applause and expressions of wonder. The High Peaks in the distance were backlit, as if twilight had arrived at 3:30 p.m. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

Rebecca Allmond, left, and Jill Smith, both from the Albany area, show off their solar eclipse glasses at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Monday, April 8. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

From left, Tricia Seith, Sophia Wells and Rich Seith pose in matching Lake Placid ball caps at the Olympic Speedskating Oval on Monday, April 8. Tricia and Wells traveled from Redwood City, California to visit Rich in Glens Falls, and the trio made the trip up to Lake Placid for the solar eclipse. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)

Totality lasted more than three minutes at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Monday, April 8. (News photo — Sydney Emerson)