History of Saratoga Springs, New York
Because of its favorable position in the angle of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, Native American trails crossed the County in all directions. Early fur trading on the southern border of the county was indicative of its fur and game potential. The mineral springs were used as medicine by the Native Americans and the superior quality of the fur was attributed to the saline springs from which the animals drank.
Battles of Saratoga
Site of the first significant American military victory during the Revolution, the Battles of Saratoga rank among the most decisive battles in world history. Here in 1777 American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender, an event which led France to recognize the independence of the United States and enter the war as a decisive military ally of the struggling Americans.
After the American Revolution, colonization began to accelerate, and the great forest then covering a large part of Saratoga County was cleared and lumbered for timber. The lumber and by-products were carried by many streams to the Hudson River and distant markets. Because of the density of the forest, the pine trees grew tall and straight and were in great demand for ship masts.
Clearing of the land led to the establishment of mills. The tanning industry and other types of mills developed as use was made of the abundant water power within the County.
Queen of the Spas
The mineral springs in Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs became the lodestar for fashionable society; the two villages vied for the title of "Queen of the Spas."
Famous names from all over the United States such as Daniel Webster, Martin Van Buren, Washington Irving, Andrew Jackson and Franklin Pierce were found on hotel registers. Life was fast and money even more so.
The Spas' fame continued to rise to international acclaim. The Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Rockefellers, J.P Morgan, "Diamond Jim" Brady, Lillian Russell and others added glamour to the County.
Horse Racing
With the influx of the social elite and the wealthy, horse racing was the natural development. In 1863, Lizzie W became the first thoroughbred to cross the finish line at Saratoga Racetrack. Horse racing flourished until the name Saratoga became internationally synonymous with racing. The greatest horses, jockeys and trainers have come to Saratoga, now the oldest thoroughbred race track in the nation. The legendary Man o' War, suffered his only career defeat in 1919 at Saratoga.
The Depression & Prohibition
1910 brought three years of despair with the prohibition of gambling. Along with the 1920's came a resurgence slightly tinged with a more exuberant and flamboyant style. Survivors of the Depression maintained the grandeur and energy until the 1930's when natives began to complain about the influx of gamblers, gangsters, bookies, pimps and prostitutes. Life in Saratoga began to ebb. The years during WWII brought with them the stark realization that a glorious century had ended. Racing was suspended for three years., and great hotels suffered and declined. It seemed that the celebrated past had been neatly swept into Edna Ferber's famed novel Saratoga Trunk to preserve an era.
Performing Arts
Opened in 1966, The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, located in the State Park, is the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NYC Ballet, the Lake George Opera Festival, and top performers of jazz, pop and rock music.
Modern Day Saratoga
Today, Saratoga once again stands proud and prosperous. A revitalization of the past combined with new investment of the present by community leaders, banks, citizens and organizations has made Saratoga County a center of culture, education, and clean industry.
Skidmore College and other educational institutions have enriched the academic environment of the area.
The countryside's historic aura is accentuated not only by the Victorian homes that flourish in Ballston Spa, Round Lake, Stillwater and Saratoga Springs, and the remembrance of the Battle of Saratoga which marks the turning point of the American Revolution, but also by the National Museums of Racing, Dance, and the National Bottle Museum. From the well-preserved Saratoga Race Track, to the mineral springs on the 2,100 acre Spa Park, residents and visitors alike can rediscover the treasures of Saratoga.