NYS Military Museum Holds Re-Opening Celebration October 7

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (10/03/2023) (readMedia)-- The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center will hold a Grand Re-Opening Celebration, featuring an Army band and a group specializing in Civil War music, on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum, at 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, closed in October 2022 while upgrades to install a new roof were made to the 131-year old building. The museum reopened to the public in July 2023.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature performances by the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band and The Veterans in a New Field, a re-enactment ensemble presenting music from the Irish Brigade of the Civil War.

The 42nd Division Band is scheduled to perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Civil War band will play indoors from 2-4 p.m.

The museum, at the former Saratoga Springs National Guard armory, holds over 28,000 artifacts that relate to New York military history, from the Revolutionary War through present day.

"The new roof is magnificent, but we are glad to finally be open and this is a great way to announce and celebrate our return," said Courtney Burns, the museum's Director of Military History. "The Military Museum is really a hidden treasure and we hope this event will attract new visitors who can discover our many exhibits and the tremendous contributions of New York and New Yorkers to American military history."

Costumed re-enactors representing soldiers from most of our nation's conflicts including the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War will be available throughout museum's exhibition galleries.

A temporary exhibit on current display highlights women in the military, featuring uniforms and artifacts from World War I to the present.

Free ice cream will be available for all visitors generously provided by Stewart's Shops in a tent outside the museum front.

There will also be souvenir handouts celebrating the day, a scavenger hunt for children, and other fun surprises.

Housed in an historic armory constructed in 1889, the Military Museum renovations included the installation of new slate roof and an HVAC system.

The New York State Military Museum is a nationally recognized source of New York State military history highlighted by the display of numerous historical treasures that are educationally and beautifully presented in a series of permanent and interpretive exhibitions.

The Re-Opening Celebration is sponsored by the Friends of the New York State Military with additional support from Stewart's Shops and Roohan Realty.

The Saratoga Springs Armory was built between 1889 and 1891 to house the Saratoga Citizens corps as the New York National Guard's 22nd Separate Company. The building was enlarged around 1906. The unit in Saratoga was later redesignated as Company L and fought in both world wars. In World War II, it was part of the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division and served in the Pacific.

The Military Museum is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 518-581-5100 or visit the website at https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/