Join us for a fascinating evening uncovering the life and legacy of George Foster Peabody, a banker, philanthropist, and reformer whose quiet influence helped shape Lake George, Saratoga Springs, New York State, and beyond.
Presented by artist, author, and historian Glen Underwood, this lecture draws from nearly a decade of meticulous research inspired by Underwood’s own family history. His family owns and operates Twin Birches Cottages in Lake George, a property located on the former grounds of Abenia—Peabody’s summer estate. What began as a search for photographs and documents connecting Peabody to the land evolved into an extraordinary historical discovery.
Beginning in 2017, Underwood conducted extensive archival research at the New York Public Library, examining the Yaddo Records and George Foster Peabody files. Through personal letters and correspondence with family, friends, governors, presidents, and leading cultural figures—including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Spencer and Katrina Trask, Edward Morse Shepard, Adolph Ochs, and John Howard Melish—Underwood uncovered the story of a man whose influence reached far beyond his summer retreat.
The lecture explores Peabody’s pivotal role in shaping regional and state landmarks such as Prospect Mountain, Shepard Park, Diamond Island, the Wiawaka Center for Women, the Lake George Association, the Caldwell–Lake George Library, the Saratoga Reservation Commission, Saratoga Spa State Park, the New York State Forest Tree Nursery, and Yaddo. Together, these efforts reveal a legacy rooted in preservation, public access, education, and civic responsibility.
The evening also highlights Underwood’s newly published, 500+ page book Discovering George Foster Peabody, a comprehensive work that brings together rare photographs, archival documents, and correspondence to reintroduce one of New York’s most quietly influential figures to modern readers. A book signing will follow the lecture.
You’re invited to discover the story behind a man whose vision helped define the character of the region we know today. Ideal for history enthusiasts, preservation advocates, and anyone interested in the people and places that shaped Saratoga Springs and Lake George.
Event Date: Thursday, June 18, 7 PM
Program length: approximately 50–60 minutes.
Tickets: $10 General Entrance, Free for Museum Members
Book Signing and purchasing will be available from the author Glenn Underwood.