List of New York State Historic Markers in Saratoga County, New York facts for kids

New York State Historic Markers are special signs that tell us about important places and events in history. They help us learn about the past and remember the people who lived and shaped our communities. This article explores some of these markers found in Saratoga County, New York, highlighting interesting stories and facts for young historians.

Historic Markers Across Saratoga County

Ballston, Town Of, New York

Ballston is a town with a rich history, home to many early settlers and important events.

• COLONIAL INN

This building was built in 1797 and served as a public tavern for many years. Imagine travelers stopping here for a rest!

• ELIPHALET BALL

Eliphalet Ball (1722-1797) was a very important person for Ballston. He founded the area and established its first real settlement in 1770.

• HOME OF JAMES GORDON

This was the home of Colonel James Gordon, a hero of the Revolutionary War. He was also a member of the Assembly, a State Senator, and the first leader of the Town of Ballston. George Washington even visited here in 1783!

• HOME OF JOHN W. TAYLOR

John W. Taylor was an important politician from Ballston Spa. He was a member of Congress and even served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a very powerful position, from 1821 to 1827.

• MCDONALDS

The famous mineral springs in Ballston-Saratoga were first shown to white settlers by Michael and Nicholas McDonald around 1765. These springs later made the area a popular spa destination.

• BALLSTON CHURCH

The Ballston Church congregation was formed in 1771 by Rev. Eliphalet Ball. The fourth church building was built in 1859. Sadly, it burned down in 1993, but the steeple was saved, and the church was rebuilt in 1994.

• SITE OF REV BALL'S LOG CHURCH-1771

This spot was where Rev. Ball's first log church stood in 1771. It was also the site of the Ballston Town Commons (1774), a stockaded fort (1775), and the Ballston Academy (1804).

• SITE OF FIRST COURT HOUSE AND JAIL

The first courthouse and jail for Saratoga County were built here in 1796. Unfortunately, they were destroyed by fire in 1816.

• TOWN OF BALLSTON

The town of Ballston was named after Eliphalet Ball. It was first created as a district in 1775 and officially became a town in 1788.

• BIRTHPLACE

This is the birthplace of Major-General Abner Doubleday, born in Ballston Spa on June 26, 1819. He is often credited as the founder of baseball in 1839 and was a Civil War hero at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.

• 1780 INVASION

In 1780, the home of Tyrannis Collins, a militia captain, was raided by British soldiers and Native Americans. All the rebel men were captured, and their houses were burned.

• SAMUEL DAVIS MD.

Dr. Samuel Davis (1765-1840) practiced medicine from his home here for 50 years. His house was also a station on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people find freedom.

• BALLSTON CENTER

Ballston Center was an important early settlement. It had Samuel Southard's Tavern, an early graveyard, a post office, and stores. George Washington even rode through here in 1783!

• McCREA HILL

Brothers James, Sam, and William McCrea built homes near here in 1771. James and Sam fought in the Revolutionary War, while William sided with the British. Their sister, Jane, was tragically killed in 1777.

• STEPHEN WHITE

Stephen White settled here in 1771. He served as a Captain in the militia but was captured by the British. His wife, Phebe, was the town midwife, and their house was a social gathering place.

Clifton Park, New York

• FORT'S FERRY

This is the site of the oldest settlement in Clifton Park, known as Canastigione, settled in 1672. Nicholas Fort started a rope ferry here in 1728.

• LOCK 19

Lock 19 was a double-chamber lock built in 1842 for the Erie Canal. It helped raise and lower boats, and the far chamber was made longer in 1885 to handle bigger boats.

• REXFORD HOUSE

Edward Rexford settled here around 1763. His early home was later made bigger by Cyrus Rexford in 1883.

• TURNPIKE

This was the route of the Saratoga Turnpike, which went from Waterford to Ballston and Saratoga around 1829. It was a private road where people paid a toll, and it was paved with wood planks in 1849.

Corinth, New York

• SOUTH CORINTH

South Corinth was an early business hub starting in the 1800s. It had sawmills, a clothing factory, a tannery, a bolt and nut factory, blacksmiths, and a wagon shop.

Charlton, New York

• BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN W. TAYLOR

This is the birthplace of John W. Taylor (1784-1854), who was a very important political figure. He served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives twice, and was also a New York State Senator and Assemblyman.

• THE CHARLTON SCHOOL

This school was founded in 1895 by John S. Hawley as the Charlton Farm School for Troubled Boys. After a fire in 1938, it was rebuilt in 1955 for young women.

• PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

This church was started on January 3, 1786, by settlers from Freehold, New Jersey. The current church building was constructed in 1852-1853.

• CHARLTON ACADEMY

The Charlton Academy was founded in 1859 by Rev. James Crocker. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in April 1946.

• CHARLTON MUSEUM

This site includes St. Paul's Episcopal Church, built in 1804, and School #8, which operated from 1859 to 1948. The Charlton Historical Society held its first meeting here in 1966.

Greenfield, New York

• WHITNEY FIELD

Whitney Field was built in 1901 by W.C. Whitney and named after his son, H.P. Whitney, a famous polo player. It was used for polo until 1934, then became farmland, and was rebuilt in 1978-1979.

Halfmoon, New York

• CRESCENT

This area is named Crescent because of the crescent shape of the Mohawk River at this spot. It was an important place for Native Americans to carry their canoes between the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. It was also the site of the Old Crescent Bridge.

• CRESCENT AQUEDUCT

These stone remnants show where the aqueduct carried the Erie Canal over the Mohawk River from 1825 to 1915. It was a huge engineering feat!

Jonesville, New York

• CEMETERY, 1864

This cemetery, established in 1864, has rolling hills, winding paths, and beautiful sculpted monuments. It shows the "rural cemetery movement" style that was popular in the mid-1800s.

Malta, Town Of, New York

• COL. ELMER ELLSWORTH

Colonel Elmer Ellsworth was born nearby on April 11, 1837. He commanded the Fire Zouaves and was the first Union officer to die in the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln mourned him "as a son."

• DUNNING STREET COMMON

Michael Dunning gave this land for public use. It was a parade ground for militia training during the Revolutionary War and has been preserved as a village green for community events.

• PARADE GROUND

Captain Michael Dunning donated this land in 1776 for militia training during the Revolutionary War. It has continued to serve Malta as a public square ever since.

• CRUM'S PLACE

George "Crum" Speck, who invented the potato chip, ran his restaurant here from 1882 to 1890. People from all over the country, as well as locals, came to dine at his famous spot.

• MALTA DRIVE-IN SIGNS

This open-air movie theater was started in 1949 by Sarto and Leona Smaldone. It was bought by brothers Ed and Tom Caro in 1988 and has been showing movies for over 50 years!

• MALTA RIDGE

Malta Ridge was settled long before 1800. Dean Chase's Tavern, a well-known landmark and stagecoach stop, stood nearby. The Methodist Episcopal church was built here in 1814.

• MALTA RIDGE CEMETERY

The earliest recorded grave here is from 1805. Many early families of the area, like the Arnolds, Bakers, Browns, and Chases, are buried here.

• WIGGINS - COLLAMER

This was the home of George Wiggins. The land was purchased in 1821, and the house was built around 1835. It stayed in the same family for 150 years before being given to the Town of Malta in 1972.

• MARVIN HOMESTEAD

This was the home of William and Susanna Marvin, who were pioneer settlers in the Town of Malta. They bought the land in 1772, and their house was built around 1790.

• EAST LINE

East Line was an early community, around 1780, shared by Malta and Ballston. It had a Methodist Episcopal Church built in 1809, a hotel, a tavern, and later, a railroad stop by 1837.

• COL. ELMER E. ELLSWORTH

This is the site of the childhood home of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth (1837-1861), who was the first Union officer killed in the Civil War.

• LUTHER FOREST

Luther Forest is a huge 7,000-acre forest preserve created by the Luther family. They planted an amazing 10 million trees between 1898 and 1937!

• SITE OF SMITH-CALDWELL-VAN AERNEM HOME

This farm house, built around 1830, had hidden passages. These secret routes were typical of homes used as part of the Underground Railroad, helping people escape slavery.

Milton (town), New York

• MILTON CENTRE

Milton Centre was a busy place from around 1780 to the late 1800s. It had a grist mill, a wheel shop, a store, a tannery, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and a law office.

• MILTON HILL

The David Wood family first settled this area of town around 1772. Milton Hill had Powell's store, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches until about 1850, and School #3 until the 1950s.

• ROSE HILL WATER TOWER

This square, triple-walled structure was built around 1917. It stored and supplied running water to the Thompson farm and the surrounding area until the 1970s.

Moreau, New York

• ON THE BROW OF THE HILL

This marker points to the site of a Royal Blockhouse, a type of small fort, built during the French and Indian War.

• ULYSSES S. GRANT

Ulysses S. Grant, a famous Civil War general and former U.S. President, lived here during his final days, from June 16 to July 23, 1885. He completed his important "Personal Memoirs" here.

Northumberland, New York

• BRITISH OVENS

This marker tells us that in the nearby hill, there were two large ovens. The British Army used them to bake food when they were camped on the flat lands next to the hill.

• FORT MILLER

Fort Miller was built by Colonel Miller in July 1755.

• GENERAL STARK

General Stark held this position to stop the British from retreating north during the Revolutionary War.

• HOME OF JOHN MCCREA

This was the home of John McCrea, whose sister, Jane McCrea, was tragically killed by Native Americans on July 27, 1777, during the Revolutionary War.

• HOME OF COL. SIDNEY BERRY

Colonel Sidney Berry served in the Revolution. He was also the first leader of the county (Surrogate) and the first leader of the town (Supervisor).

Saratoga, New York

• BREASTWORKS OF GENERAL LEARNED

Breastworks are temporary walls or defenses built quickly. These were part of General Learned's defenses.

• BREASTWORKS OF GENERAL BURGOYNE

These breastworks were part of the defenses built by General Burgoyne's army.

• COLONEL MORGAN

Colonel Morgan crossed the creek here when his troops attacked the British camp. He also held positions to prevent the British from retreating west.

• ON THESE FIELDS

This marker shows where the British Army surrendered their weapons during the surrender at Saratoga.

• SITE OF FORT HARDY 1757

This is the site of Fort Hardy, built in 1757.

• SITE OF CONTINENTAL BARRACKS

This was the site of the Continental Barracks, where General Stark held a trial and found the Tory Lovelace guilty of being a spy.

• SITE OF GENERAL GATES HEADQUARTERS

This was General Gates' headquarters before General Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777.

• SITE OF SURRENDER OF GENERAL BURGOYNE

This is the exact spot where General Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates on October 17, 1777, a major turning point in the Revolutionary War.

• SITE OF HOME OF GENERAL SCHUYLER

This was the home of General Schuyler, which was burned by Burgoyne's forces in 1777.

• SITE OF WHEATFIELDS BURNED BY CATHERINE SCHUYLER

Catherine Schuyler bravely burned these wheatfields when American settlers fled before Burgoyne's army. This prevented the British from using the crops.

• SITE OF OLDEST COTTON MILL IN NEW YORK STATE

This is the site of the oldest cotton mill in New York State, built in 1828.

Saratoga National Historical Park, New York

This park is home to many markers about the important Battles of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War.

• AMERICAN ENTRENCHMENTS

These markers show the lines of defense built by the American army during the Battles of September 19 and October 7, 1777.

• AMERICAN PERIOD

This marker points to the site of Fort Neilson's Block House, which visitors can explore.

• AMERICAN PICKETS

American soldiers held this high ground between the battles of September 19 and October 7, 1777.

• BATTLE FIELD CEMETERY

This cemetery is where American heroes who died fighting for the birth of the United States are buried.

• BATTLE WELL

This well was sought by wounded soldiers from both armies and was a place of great suffering after the battles of 1777.

• BREYMANN REDOUBT

This was the site of the last fight of the Battle of October 7, 1777.

• BRITISH ENTRENCHMENTS

These were the defensive lines built by the British on the Breymann Redoubt.

• BRITISH PICKETS

British soldiers held this high ground between the battles of September 19 and October 7, 1777.

• BRITISH CENTER

On October 7, 1777, this was the position of General Riedesel's Brunswick troops and Captain Pausch's artillery.

• BRITISH LEFT

On October 7, 1777, this was the position of Major Acland's Grenadiers and Major Williams' Royal Artillery.

• BRITISH RIGHT

On October 7, 1777, this was the position of the Light Infantry led by the Earl of Balcarras.

• BURGOYNE BRIDGE

This bridge was built by Burgoyne's invading army.

• GEN. MORGAN'S RIFLE CORPS

General Morgan's riflemen attacked the British Redoubt after a wide movement around the back of the redoubt.

• GENERAL DEARBORN'S LIGHT INFANTRY

This was the left side of the American attack on the British line during the Battle of October 7, 1777.

• GENERAL LEARNED'S BRIGADE

This was the center of the American attack on the British line on October 7, 1777, made up of New York and Massachusetts regiments.

• GENERAL POOR'S BRIGADE

This was the right side of the American attack on the British line on October 7, 1777, made up of New Hampshire and New York regiments.

• GREAT REDOUBT

This was a key battle site where the British held against attacks by Arnold during the Battle of October 7, 1777.

• HEADQUARTERS OF GEN. ARNOLD

This was General Arnold's headquarters during the Battles of September 19 and October 7, 1777.

• MAJOR ACLAND

Major Acland was captured on October 7, 1777. He later fought a duel to defend the bravery of the Americans.

• MIDDLE RAVINE

This ravine separated the American and British armies between the Battles of Saratoga.

• OLD POWDER MAGAZINE

This is the restored powder magazine from the Battles of Saratoga in 1777, rebuilt with its original stone on the exact spot.

• ON THIS SPOT

Francis Clerke, an aide to Burgoyne, was mortally wounded here on October 7, 1777.

• THE SHOT THAT KILLED GEN. FRASER

On October 7, 1777, General Fraser was killed by a shot fired from near here by Timothy Murphy of Morgan's Riflemen.

• TO THE EAST

This marker points to Burgoyne's Headquarters.

• TO THE NORTH IS BREYMANN REDOUBT

This redoubt was the westernmost point of the British camp. It was captured by the Americans on October 7, when Arnold was severely wounded.

Saratoga Springs, City Of, New York

• BRYAN HOME

This home was built in 1832 on the site of the log cabin inn of Alexander Bryan, a Revolutionary War scout.

• "THE GUT", OR "THE VALLEY"

From about 1920 to 1960, this low-lying neighborhood was a lively Jewish area with stores, markets, hotels, and boarding houses. It served many visitors from New York City who came for the healing springs.

• GIDEON PUTNAM BURYING GROUND

Gideon Putnam (1763-1812) was an early settler and a founding father of Saratoga. He helped develop Saratoga from a wilderness into a famous spa town. He donated this land and was the first person buried here.

• WORLD WAR MEMORIAL PAVILION

This pavilion was dedicated in 1931 by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 70. It stands on the site of the 1882 Congress Spring Victorian bandstand.

• DUBLIN

From the 1840s to the 1890s, Irish and then Italian immigrants moved to this special neighborhood. They were drawn by work in hotels and on the railroad.

• PINE GROVE

This was the site of the Walworth home from 1823 to 1952. It was also the home of Ellen Hardin Walworth, one of the four women who founded the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1890.

Stillwater, New York

• DIRCK SWART HOUSE

This house was the headquarters for General Philip Schuyler from August 3-14, 1777. From here, Benedict Arnold marched to help Fort Stanwix.

• FERRY LANE

In October 1777, Burgoyne's Brunswick troops marched through this lane to Vandenburgh Ferry. From there, they went to a prison camp in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• HARMANUS SCHUYLER MANSION

George Washington, General Philip Schuyler, and Governor George Clinton were all guests here in 1783.

• HISTORIC SITES

This area has many historic sites, including Fort Ingoldsby (built 1709), Fort Winslow (built 1756), Montressor's Blockhouse & Storehouse Barracks (1758), and Schuyler's Supply Depot (1777).

• ON THE WOODED HILL

To the left, on the wooded hill, you can see earthworks. These were defensive structures built by the American Army before the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

Waterford, New York

• HALFMOON FORT

This fort, built in 1689, was a defense outpost for Albany. It was also the site of the "Ye Halfmoon" settlement in 1764, located on the "Great Road" to Canada.

• WATER FORD

This was a colonial ford, or shallow crossing, across the Mohawk River. Waterford gets its name from this historic crossing point.

• WATERFORD

Waterford, established in 1794, is the oldest continuously incorporated village in New York State. This means it has been an official village for a very long time!

• WHITE HOMESTEAD

This home was built in 1830 by Hugh White. He was important in developing power and industry in Cohoes, was a railroad builder, and a Congressman. He was also the brother of Canvass White, a famous civil engineer.

Wilton, New York

• BATTLE OF WILTON

On February 17, 1693, a British force of 250 white soldiers and 290 Native Americans fought a French and Native American force of "600 or 700" men here.

• GRANT COTTAGE

These markers point to the Grant Cottage on Mount McGregor. This is where Ulysses S. Grant, the famous Civil War general and former U.S. President, died on July 23, 1885. The cottage offers a "splendid panorama" known as "Grant's Last View."

• EMERSON's TAVERN

Emerson's Tavern operated from 1790 to 1981. It was the site of the first Town of Wilton meeting in March 1819, where Dudley Emerson was elected the first Supervisor. General Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution, even stayed here!

• DR. ORRA PHELPS

Dr. Phelps (1895-1896) served the school system, the Navy, and the Veterans Hospital. She was also a botanist, an "ADK 46er" (meaning she climbed all 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks), an author, a naturalist, and a teacher.

Images for kids

• 

  The Colonial Inn marker

• 

  The Eliphalet Ball marker

• 

  The James Gordon Home marker

• 

  The John W. Taylor Home marker

• 

  The Samuel Young marker

• 

  The McDonalds marker

• 

  The McDonalds site marker

• 

  The Ballston Church marker

• 

  The marker for Rev. Ball's Log Church

• 

  The Christ Episcopal Church marker

• 

  The marker for Ballston's first courthouse and jail

• 

  The Beriah Palmer marker

• 

  The Bettys Tavern marker

• 

  The Town of Ballston marker

• 

  The Crescent, NY marker

• 

  The Bryan Home marker

• 

  The Water Ford marker

• 

  The Battle of Wilton marker

• 

  The Grant Cottage marker

• 

  Another Grant Cottage marker

• 

  A third Grant Cottage marker

• 

  The Ulysses S. Grant marker

• 

  The Fort's Ferry marker

• 

  The Erie Canal Lock 19 marker

• 

  The "The Gut" marker

• 

  The Gideon Putnam Burying Ground marker

• 

  The World War Memorial Pavilion marker

• 

  The Dublin Historic Marker

• 

  The Col. Elmer Ellsworth marker

• 

  The Dunning Street Common marker

• 

  The Parade Ground marker

• 

  The Whitney Field marker

• 

  The Jonesville Cemetery marker

• 

  The Cyrus Rexford House marker

• 

  The Kingsley Inn marker

• 

  The Bettys Family marker

• 

  The Burnt Hills Baptist Church marker

• 

  The Calvary Episcopal Church marker

• 

  The marker for Abner Doubleday's birthplace

• 

  The Milton Centre marker

• 

  The Milton Hill marker

• 

  The Rose Hill Water Tower marker

• 

  The Crescent Aqueduct marker

• 

  The marker for Ballston's first courthouse and jail

• 

  The Jonathan Filer Home marker

• 

  The 1780 Invasion marker

• 

  The Samuel Davis marker

• 

  The Ballston Center marker

• 

  The Saratoga County Seat marker

• 

  The Emerson's Tavern marker

• 

  The Iron Spring marker (1800)

• 

  The Iron Spring marker (1900)

• 

  The Pine Grove marker

• 

  The McCrea Hill marker

• 

  The Stephen White marker

• 

  The Dr. Orra Phelps marker

• 

  The Malta Drive-In marker

• 

  The Malta Ridge marker

• 

  The Malta Ridge Cemetery marker

• 

  The Wiggins-Collamer House marker

• 

  The John W. Taylor Birthplace marker

• 

  The Crum's Place marker

• 

  The Charlton School marker

• 

  The Freehold Presbyterian Church marker

• 

  The Charlton Academy marker

• 

  The Charlton Museum marker

• 

  The E. Hubbell marker

• 

  The Trip-Hammer marker

• 

  The Marvin Homestead marker

• 

  The East Line marker

• 

  The South Corinth marker

• 

  The Stevens School marker

• 

  The Col. Elmer Ellsworth home marker

• 

  The Luther Forest marker

• 

  The Smith-Caldwell-VanAernem home marker

• 

  The Plank Road Turnpike marker