Over the past few years, I have been meaning to stop by
the information booth located on Broadway in front of Congress Park.
Every time I have gone by there in the summer I always wondered what
the tourists are told about Saratoga Springs. I promise myself I am going
to do things that I have been wanting to do for years, like go to Victoria Pool
and do more “Saratoga stuff”.
Yesterday I went on a walking tour of Congress Park and part of Circular Street.
The tour started at the Visitors Center located on the corner of Broadway and Congress Street. The tour guide was Ms.Jonny Roberts who is the Director of the Visitors Center.The tour was $5 and lasted 90 minutes.
Myself and another woman were the only ones on the tour which was nice especially when we had questions regarding the tour.
The Visitors Center building has an interesting history all by itself. It was originally a trolley station and later in 1941-1960 it was a drinking hall (various mineral waters could be tasted)
The murals on the wall of the Visitors Center pay homage to the natural springs of Saratoga and to the Native American’s who introduced white people to their healing abilities. The chandeliers are inspired by Saratoga’s Native American roots.
On the tour we learned that Gideon Putnam once had a tavern on the Corner of Broadway and Congress Street.( where Talbot’s stands today)
Gideon Putnam was often criticized by his grandiose ideas of how Saratoga should be developed but he was rather instrumental on the “look” of Saratoga.
It's always fun to be a tourist in your own backyard. Saratoga County has so many cool little places to visit.