How Congress Park got its name
Congress Park in Saratoga Springs
Today it's known as the center of downtown Saratoga Springs, but back in the day, when Saratoga was just a settlement, Congress Park was only a swampy hunting ground.
In 1792 an early American settler named Nicholas Gilman wandered out to that hunting ground in search of dinner. No one knows if he bagged any game.
What we do know is that he noticed water percolating to the ground from beneath the earth. Gilman is credited with discovering what went on to become Saratoga's best known spring. Later, when he became a member of the first US Congress, it was named "Congress Spring" in his honor. And the place it resides became known as Congress Park.
Mike Hare is the author of Saratoga Lives and a Spa City tour guide.
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well I just moved here from Florida and this town is amazing! I can walk o congress park from my house and I can walk to school, the ymca, the library and I can even walk to down town saratgoa were there loads of stuff to do....if ur ever looking for a vacation come to Saratoga springs in the fall to see the beautiful shades of colors that I didn't even know existed!
... said julia on Jun 19, 2013 at 12:41 PM | link