Saratoga National Historical Park

Reservations are full for this event. 

In November 1775, Gen. George Washington gave Henry Knox a mission to travel to New York and bring back cannons for the Continental Army. Knox was a 25-year-old bookseller with no military rank. His trek back to Cambridge has become a beloved part of the American saga. This talk digs deeper into that story, examining such questions as who first had the idea to fetch cannon from Lake Champlain, how Knox had contributed to the Patriot movement, the ways weather affected the mission, and how much those cannon changed the British army’s plans.

J. L. Bell is the author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and the National Park Service study General George Washington’s Home and Headquarters, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He maintains the Boston1775.net website, offering daily updates of history, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the people of Revolutionary New England. Bell is now working on a book about the troubled first year of the Continental artillery regiment.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email us (SARA_Reservations@nps.gov) to reserve your seat!

Help the National Park Service beautify the park for the summer! Volunteers will assist with winter debris pickup, landscape preparation, and cleaning interpretive signage for the busy visitor season. Volunteers should report to the Visitor Center between 8:30 am and 9:00 am for registration, completion of required paperwork, and instructions. To register for this event e-mail us.

Volunteering with the National Park Service requires filling out and signing a Volunteer Service Agreement. This will be sent via email to all who sign up so that it can be filled out in advance. Additional copies will be on hand if this is not possible. Volunteers should be prepared for outdoor activities and the unpredictable April weather of upstate New York. Any needed tools or supplies will be provided. In the instance of inclement weather, Park Day will be cancelled.

Saratoga National Historical Park unveils a new exhibit for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and, next year, the Battles of Saratoga. In April 1777, two French ships laden with military supplies, including more than 100 cannons, arrived in Portsmouth, NH. These weapons proved critical in enabling the forces of the United States to fight two campaigns that summer. In conjunction with Colonial National Historical Park, Saratoga staff were able to secure this French 4-pound cannon a la suidoise named La Poesie to be displayed during these important commemorations. We will open the new exhibit with three speakers unveiling the history of these cannons in addition to La Poesie herself:

Robert A. Selig is a historical consultant who received his Ph.D. in history from the Universität Würzburg in Germany in 1988. He is a specialist on the role of French forces under the comte de Rochambeau during the American War of Independence and serves as project historian for the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Project. Dr. Selig will discuss the political environment in France which led to the convenient availability of hundreds of cannons just when the Americans needed them the most.

Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer will share how ten of the recently arrived French cannons came to the American Northern Army and their impact on the Battles of Saratoga.

Curator Christine Valosin will describe the process which brought La Poesie to Saratoga and announce another important project the park is undertaking in partnership with the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield to ensure the French cannons will have a presence on the battlefield itself in the near future.

Room for the lecture portion of the event is strictly limited. Reservations must be made by emailing us at SARA_Reservations@nps.gov. No reservation is required to simply view the cannon in the Visitor Center.

Do you love visiting Saratoga NHP with your pet?

Saratoga National Historical Park invites you and your pup for the launch of the park’s B.A.R.K. Ranger Program on Saturday, May 9 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Schuyler Estate in Schuylerville, NY. This site has restrooms, access to water, and nearby trails that are pet friendly. Learn what it means to be a B.A.R.K Ranger, explore the history of dogs at the Schuyler Estate, visit with park rangers, and get your pup officially certified! 100% certified good pups will earn a certificate and a special launch event bandana.

The event will also feature Lucky Puppy Rescue, Out of the Pits, and Saratoga County Animal Shelter sharing their work to help animals in our community and information about their adoptable animals! We will also be joined by the Friends of Fort Hardy Park and the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield discussing dog-friendly recreation in the area.

Join us for a B.A.R.K. Ranger fashion show at 1 pm! Show off your pet's style to participate. Bonus points for American Revolution themed outfits! Remember, the best accessories your pup can wear when visiting Saratoga NHP is a 6-foot leash with a poop bag dispenser attached.

If you can’t make it to the event, you can stop by our park visitor center during operating hours to fulfill the program requirements and earn a certificate and tag with your pup. Pets are not allowed in our park visitor center so bring a friend to watch your pup outside while you pop in to get your pet certified. Do not leave pets unattended in vehicles. Check out our B.A.R.K. Ranger program page on our website to learn where you can go and our requirements: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/become-a-saratoga-b-a-r-k-ranger.htm