After the Revolutionary War, the new nation’s earliest resorts were spas following the tradition of those in England. Ballston Spa was one of the earliest and soon eclipsed its rivals in terms of springs, hotels and amenities. New York City’s Nicholas Low was the most enterprising of the Spa’s developers. By the 1830s, however, Saratoga Springs’ resort had surpassed Ballston Spa, which continued, using its water power and railroad to establish the mills of the Industrial Revolution.

Join Ted Corbett, former director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and author of a dozen books, as he discusses “The Rise and Fall of Ballston Spa as a Resort”.

Ted’s book on “The Making of American Resorts” featuring not only Ballston Spa, but also Saratoga Springs and Lake George, is published by Rutgers University Press.

This is an online event. A Zoom link will be sent out within 24 hours of the start.

This event is free for members. There is a suggested donation of $5 for non-members, but any donations are always welcome and gratefully received. Register HERE