The trustees and staff of the Saratoga County History Center invite residents and tourists alike to celebrate the storied history of Saratoga County in a new exhibit at Brookside Museum entitled “Saratoga County: Our Home!”
The exhibit, which opens May 20, takes guests on an immersive, artifact-rich journey spanning four centuries of Saratoga life, business, and nature.
The exhibit fills three large rooms in the historic Brookside Museum, itself a cherished relic of local history from the early years of Saratoga resort life.
“Saratoga County: Our Home!” features scores of priceless artifacts from Brookside Museum’s vast collections, including a Bible printed in Amsterdam in 1718, an 1804 tin chandelier from the present Medbery Inn, a windowpane etched by Washington Irving during his Ballston visit, a section of the 1832 railroad track from Schenectady to Saratoga, and a roulette wheel seized in a 1950 police raid.
The most recent object is a “wafer,” a GlobalFoundries disk holding microchips. Over a hundred historic photographs place the objects in context, along with interpretive text that discusses 13 geographic, economic, and social forces that helped shape the county.
Museum officials said it is the comprehensive exhibit to tackle the broad sweep of county history in the 58 years of the museum’s existence. It was made possible with funding from the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
Additional support was provided by The Adirondack Trust Co., Munter Enterprises, and Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family.
Reopening after winter closure, Brookside Museum is nearing completion of major restoration and stabilization funded by its members and friends.
The exhibit, which will be ongoing, may be visited 1-5 p.m. daily, except Monday.
Brookside Museum is located at 21 Fairground Ave., Ballston Spa, four blocks from Route 50 at the west end of Front Street. Admission is free.
For information telephone 885-4000 or visit brooksidemuseum.org.