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Site of the Battle of Saratoga

Saratoga National Historic Park, part of the US National Park Service, commemorates the site where our emerging nation fought for its first victory in the Battle of Saratoga during the American Revolution. Considered one of the fifteen most decisive battles in world history, the Battle of Saratoga in the fall of 1777 is considered the turning point of the Patriots struggle for independence, directly leading to France’s entry into the war as a decisive military ally of the struggling Americans.

The Historic Park is made up of three separate units, all just a short drive from Saratoga Springs: the four-square mile Battlefield is in Stillwater, along the banks of the Hudson River; the General Philip Schuyler House, approximately seven miles north of the Battlefield, is in Schuylerville; and the Saratoga Monument, a 155-foot obelisk that commemorates the American victory, is located approximately 7 ½ miles north of the Battlefield in Victory. Both the Schuyler House and the Saratoga Monument are about a 15 – 20 minute drive from the Battlefield.

At the Battlefield you will find the Visitor Center (open year-round), where you can watch an orientation film and browse through several displays. From April through November (weather permitting) this is also where you can pay an entrance fee and receive a park map and brochure that you can use on a self-guided driving tour of the Battlefield. There are 10 exhibit stops spread along 9 miles. Depending on the time you spend at each stop, the entire tour, including time at the Visitor Center, takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours. Saratoga.com Insider Tip – The Battlefield is open to pedestrian traffic year-round, 7 days a week, during daylight hours. It’s a great place to snowshoe in winter!

The restored Schuyler House offers a glimpse into Colonial life and was the country home of American General Philip Schuyler that he had rebuilt after the British burned it to the ground during their retreat. The House offers free, guided tours Wednesdays through Sundays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, during the summer season, and takes about 30 minutes. Saratoga.com Insider Tip – Time your visit during two very popular events each year – an 18th Century Day in August and an evening Candlelight Tour in October. See our events calendar for more information.

The Saratoga Monument is also open Wednesdays through Sundays during the summer season, as was built to commemorate where the British General Burgoyne surrendered. There is a brief talk by a Ranger stationed at the Monument. The presentation and the climb to and from the top of the 155-foot granite monument totals about 30 minutes. The view from the top offers a unique perspective of the farmlands and countryside where the Continental Army battled and the history of the world took a sharp turn towards liberty for all people.

For more information on the Battle of Saratoga, click here. You can also read a full excerpt from Edward J. Creasy's Fifteen Decisive Battles Of the World.