New Saratoga Mineral Springs Museum; Spa Park Lincoln Bath Upgrades

The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation ( State Parks ) has reopened the Lincoln Bathhouse at Saratoga Spa State Park after multimillion-dollar renovation projects inside and out, which now includes a new mineral springs museum focused on cultural history of Saratoga waters. The Lincoln Bathhouse will now serve as an enhanced gateway to Spa Park, which welcomes over four million visitors annually, making it one of the five most visited parks in the New York State Park system. The Lincoln Bathhouse will join other New York State landmarks such as Niagara Falls and, the Empire State Building to be illuminated with different colors for holidays, commemorations and special events, officials said. The original Lincoln Bathhouse was built in 1915 offering mineral spring baths to patrons, before being destroyed by fire in 1927. The current building opened in 1930 and today houses the Children’s Museum at Saratoga , the regional headquarters of New York State Park Police , and the New York State Court of Claims . This multi-phased effort includes a $4.4 million project to upgrade accessibility, parking and site circulation around the Lincoln, including the planting of 122 native trees. An additional $2.5 million interior rehabilitation supported the relocation of the park office and gift store from 19 Roosevelt Drive to the Lincoln Bathhouse located at 65 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs . The relocation creates an enhanced visitor gateway to Spa Park and provides greater park office visibility at the park’s primary entrance. The park will continue to staff the information desk at the former park office on the Roosevelt Campus, and State Park’s Saratoga/Capital District Region headquarters will remain at the Administration Building at 19 Roosevelt Drive. The Lincoln Bathhouse’s new historical exhibit, The Saratoga Museum of Hydrotherapy, explores the history of the region’s mineral waters and their role in Saratoga Spa State Park’s development as a center for health and wellness. Located in an original wing of the bathhouse, the museum showcases many of the methods and devices that were used for hydrotherapy and other wellness practices during the height of the Spa. This includes a 1930s General Electric X-ray machine, physical therapy equipment, mineral water treatment systems, and ceramic bathing tubs. The museum will begin with a special preview period and will be open to the public on a limited schedule from 10 am until 4 pm Saturdays and Sundays beginning October 10 and 11 – NY’s Path Through History Weekend . Guided tours will be available at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 2:30 pm. This preview period will allow staff to refine interpretation and operations while gathering public feedback, a press release from State Parks said. The exterior site improvements include: New paths, sidewalks, crossings, curb cuts, ramps and drop off areas to improve accessibility, circulation, pedestrian safety and connections; New landscaping, site lighting, bicycle racks, benches and orientation signage; Expanded accessible parking lots for visitors, park employees and tenants; New electrical system with EV chargers; Newly separated entrances for visitors, park staff and NYS Park Police; Improved entrance to the Children’s Museum at Saratoga; and New plantings of native trees. Interior improvements include: Visitor Welcome Hall with park gift store, wayfinding and amenity information; The new Saratoga Hydrotherapy Museum exploring the history of Saratoga’s mineral spring waters; Improved park offices and multi-purpose meeting rooms; and New HVAC equipment, sprinkler system, structural upgrades. The park office relocation and opening of the museum mark the first time the Bathhouse has been fully operational for decades, with the building now fully ADA accessible The Children’s Museum relocated from downtown Saratoga Springs in 2022 and welcomes 79,000 annual visitors to Spa Park year-round. In collaboration with State Parks, the Museum added an inclusive interior courtyard playground in June 2025, which features elements that support children of all abilities. The weekly Spa City Farmers’ Market also operates inside the Lincoln Bathhouse November through April. These latest projects complement a series of infrastructure and recreational upgrades at Saratoga Spa State Park including a recent $3.6 million renovation of the Kiddie Pool area at the Peerless Pool Complex and the $12 million renovation of the Spa Little Theater, which is anticipated to reopen later this year. Read More About Saratoga Spa State Park Photo of the new entrance to Lincoln Baths at Saratoga Spa State Park provided by State Parks.