What We Do
Programs
The History Museum hosts free lectures and educational programs on Saratoga Springs history every month. These informative programs are presented by local historians and nationally recognized scholars.
Education
Nearly 1000 elementary, high school, and college students participate in our educational programs each year. These programs focus on the History of Saratoga Springs compared to national and worldwide events. Our Health, History and Horses program is our most popular educational component. Designed to meet fourth grade curriculum, this program takes students back to 19th century Saratoga Springs to learn about what their lives would have been like long ago.
Tours
Group tours of the History Museum, Congress Park, and the Italian Gardens can be arranged by special appointment. Special arrangements can be made to open the museum after hours for groups holding a function in the Canfield Casino. Call the museum office at (518) 584-6920 to discuss pricing and availability.
Preservation of Collections
The History Museum preserves a diverse collection of 15,000 objects that range from the 1802 Gideon Putnam Tavern sign, to Victorian dresses, to ephemera from the mineral springs and beyond. We also preserve the George S. Bolster Collection. This nationally recognized archive contains over 375,000 photographic negatives of Saratoga Springs, 1855-1980. These provide a visual record of the history of Saratoga Springs and are an excellent resource for professional and casual researchers. The Beatrice Sweeney Archive contains thousands of documents and business records such as the Caffe Lena papers. These are preserved and made available to anyone wishing to utilize this resource.