297 Broadway

Heritage Area Visitor Center

Built in 1915 for the Hudson Valley Railway Company, this magnificent Beaux-Arts trolley station welcomed guests to Saratoga Springs. The trolley line ran from Schenectady to Saratoga and continued to Glens Falls and operated from 1915 -1941. The ticket booth, trolley bed in the rear, and the original chestnut benches remain today.

New York State, through the Work Projects Administration, operated the Drink Hall from 1941-1965. Tables and chairs filled the trolley bed, where visitors could relax, and taste the mineral waters from Saratoga. The massive wooden coolers still exist. A concession stand operated selling newspapers and snacks inviting people to mingle.

In 1965, the property was deeded to the City of Saratoga Springs and in 1974 is was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Murals on the exterior front of the building depict Saratoga history. On the left is the surrender of General Burgoyne to General Gates at the Battle of Saratoga and on the right is Sir William Johnson at the High Rock Spring seeking a cure from the mineral water. In the mid-80s, New York State designated it as a Heritage Area and in 1992, after major renovations, the site was opened as a Visitor Center. The office of the Saratoga Springs City Historian, Mary Ann Fitzgerald, and the City’s records vault are also in the building.

In 2015, the City of Saratoga Springs entered into a partnership with Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau to manage the Visitor Center. Their mission statement reads:

“Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau is a key economic development engine for this community, the mission of the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau is to contribute a positive impact on the local economy by promoting and marketing Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County as a world-class destination for meetings, conventions and groups.”

For more information visit their website www.discoversaratoga.org.

The Centennial Series

The city of Saratoga Springs was chartered on April 7, 1915. In celebration of our 100 years this summer, Roohan Realty brings you “The Centennial Series,” featuring the history of local properties – from origin to what we see today.

Do you own a historic property or know one you’d like to see featured? Submit an inquiry and our contributing writer will contact you.