A Look Back: Touring the Saratoga Springs History Museum at the Canfield Casino
Nov 7, 2017
In a special archival video produced by the New York State Military Museum, viewers are invited inside the Saratoga Springs History Museum for a guided tour of its galleries, collections, and historic home—the legendary Canfield Casino in Congress Park.
Though filmed in 2017, the video remains a meaningful snapshot of the museum’s mission and its role as steward of Saratoga Springs’ past. Featuring insights from Jamie Parillo, Executive Director, and Darren Miller, then President of the Board of Trustees, the tour highlights how the museum preserves and presents the stories that define the city.
Inside the Canfield Casino
Built in 1870 by John Morrissey, the Canfield Casino once served as one of the most exclusive gambling houses in the country. Later acquired and lavishly renovated by Richard Canfield in the late 19th century, the building reflects Saratoga Springs’ Gilded Age opulence—from its grand gaming rooms to the surrounding Italian gardens.
Since 1911, the building has been owned by the City of Saratoga Springs, and since 1912, it has served as the home of the Historical Society—one of the oldest historical societies in the nation, founded in 1883.
Telling Saratoga’s stories—beyond the famous names
The video walks viewers through exhibits that balance Saratoga’s high-profile history with everyday life. Alongside stories of wealth, gambling, and tourism are exhibits focused on local neighborhoods, transportation, and the lived experiences of residents—spaces many visitors instantly recognize and connect with.
Highlights include:
Artifacts from 19th- and early 20th-century Saratoga, including bicycles, household items, and personal effects
Photographs ranging from celebratory events like floral parades to more sobering crime-scene images
Hands-on educational materials used in school programs, allowing students to engage directly with history
As one guide notes in the video, seeing familiar experiences reflected in a local history museum helps visitors feel validated—and encourages them to return.
A museum for all ages
The tour concludes with an invitation that still rings true today: the Saratoga Springs History Museum is a place for locals and visitors of all ages to explore, learn, and connect with the past. Whether discovering Saratoga for the first time or revisiting familiar stories, the museum continues to offer a welcoming and engaging experience inside one of the city’s most iconic buildings.
We thank the New York State Military Museum for preserving and sharing this video, which captures an important chapter in the museum’s ongoing story.