Discovering George Foster Peabody: The Man Who Helped Shape Saratoga Springs
The Saratoga Springs History Museum is pleased to present Discovering George Foster Peabody, a lecture and book signing with artist, author, and historian Glenn Underwood on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Museum, located in the historic Canfield Casino in Congress Park.
This special program will explore the life and legacy of George Foster Peabody, a banker, philanthropist, and reformer whose quiet influence helped shape Saratoga Springs, Lake George, New York State, and beyond.
Peabody’s story is one of vision, generosity, preservation, and public good. His contributions supported institutions and initiatives that continue to shape the region today, including Saratoga Spa State Park, Yaddo, public libraries, women’s spaces, conservation efforts, and civic projects throughout Lake George and Saratoga Springs.
An Eight-Year Research Journey
Glenn Underwood’s connection to this story is deeply personal. His family owns and operates Twin Birches Cottages in Lake George, a property located on the former grounds of Abenia, George Foster Peabody’s summer estate.
In 2017, Underwood began researching the history of the property at the New York Public Library’s Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room for Rare Books and Manuscripts, where he examined the Yaddo Records and George Foster Peabody files. What began as a search for photographs and documents connecting Peabody to the land soon evolved into a much larger discovery.
Through Peabody’s letters and correspondence with family, friends, governors, presidents, and leading cultural figures of his era, Underwood uncovered the story of a man whose influence reached far beyond Lake George.
Over the past eight years, Underwood has meticulously researched and documented Peabody’s friendships with figures including Edward Morse Shepard, Spencer and Katrina Trask, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Adolph Ochs, and John Howard Melish, among others.
A Legacy Across Lake George and Saratoga
The lecture will explore Peabody’s role in regional projects and institutions 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 stories reveal a figure whose influence was both wide-reaching and quietly transformative. Peabody helped shape public spaces, cultural institutions, preservation efforts, and civic initiatives that continue to define the character of the region.
About the Book
Underwood’s research culminated in his new 500+ page book, Discovering George Foster Peabody, a comprehensive work that brings together archival research, personal correspondence, and rare photographs to reintroduce one of New York’s most influential—and often overlooked—figures to modern readers.
Following the lecture, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Glenn Underwood and participate in a book signing.
Event Details
Discovering George Foster Peabody
Lecture & Book Signing with Glenn Underwood
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Saratoga Springs History Museum
Address: 1 E. Congress Street, Saratoga Springs, NY, in the Canfield Casino
Admission: Free for History Museum Members | $10 General Admission
Join us for a fascinating evening of history, discovery, and storytelling as we uncover the remarkable legacy of George Foster Peabody and his lasting impact on Saratoga Springs, Lake George, and New York State.
Reserve your tickets today and discover one of the region’s most remarkable stories.