Transcripts For CSPAN3 American History TV Visits Saratoga Springs NY 20171217

Because it is the oldest sport in the country. Itself saw just about every racehorse that ever lived. Not all of them, but most of them. The New York Times magazine said that the battles for saratoga were the most important battles ever fought in the entire world in the last 1000 years because they resulted in surrender. It was the First Time Ever in World History that a british army surrendered. Welcome to Saratoga Springs, on American History tv. Healing mineral waters, revolutionary war battles, and worldrenowned horseracing are all part of the citys history. It is located about four hours north of new york city, and has a population of about 27,000. With the help of our spectrum Cable Partners, for the next 75 minutes we will learn about the citys history, including its connection to civil war and american president ulysses s. Grant. We begin our special feature on the battlefield that changed the tide in the revolutionary war. The New York Times magazine said the battles for saratoga were the most important battles thought in the entire world in the last 1000 years, because they resulted in the generals surrender. It was the First Time Ever in World History that a british army surrendered. We are currently located at freemans farm. This is one of the places at Saratoga National historical park where the battles of saratoga were fought in 1777 during the american war for independence. Saratoga National Historical park today consists of about 3400 acres. As as established in 1948, park within the National Park service system. Army had ae british plan in order to defeat the american rebellion. The plan was that they would have an army leave canada and moved south and capture the city of albany. From there, that army would be able to operate either in lower new york or throughout new england, and attack American Forces that were fighting against them. The british set off from canada in june of 1777, and after months and months of campaigning, they traveled hundreds of miles and eventually got here, to saratoga battlefield, located about 30 miles north of the city of albany. On the morning of the 19th of september, 1777, the british in expectationh, of engaging the American Army commanded by Major General Horatio Gates in battle. The armies collided here at freemans farm. The battle of freemans farm was not the bloodiest battle of the revolutionary war, but it was one of the longest. It began at about 11 30 in the morning, very near where we are standing now, and lasted until about 7 00 in the evening. The battle resulted in a british victory. The british won the battle of freemans farm, because they held the field of battle. The American Army retreated, because they had lost. The british, however, suffered more casualties than the American Army did. The british casualty number was about 580 officers and men killed, captured, and wounded. American casualties numbered about 320. So, although it was a purex victory foryrrhic the british, they held the field of battle. The british had to reorganize their forces. They had taken so many casualties on the day of the battle that they had to reorganize things, and they needed a day of rest. They also needed to replenish their spent ammunition. That takes an entire day to do. The army of the United States commanded by Horatio Gates had to do similar reorganizations of their forces and also replenish ammunition for soldiers sent to the battle, which consisted of about half of the American Army under gatess command. The next day was a day of rest for both armies. The following day, the 21st of september, was a day in which one of those incidents in history occurs in which nobody planned it, but timing resulted in a very decisive event in history. That morning, the morning of the 21st of september, the british commander received a note from the british commander from the city of new york, and this note, written by the british commander in new york, sir Henry Clinton was his name, he informed him that he was preparing to make an attack from new york city up through the Hudson Highlands and create a die version diversion which he hoped would be in his favor. This note andad responded to general clinton with the words do it, my friend, directly. The strategy was, with the diversion in the Hudson Highlands, Horatio Gates would have to split his force in half so as to see to the threat in the south, making it easier to give battle to a wea kened American Army and therefore capture the city of albany about 30 miles from freemans farm. He decided he would wait for general clintons diversion to have an effect, so he began to set up his own camp, build fortifications on freemans farm and the surrounding landscape, and he was waiting, waiting and waiting for two and a half weeks. In that timeframe, no further word arrived from general clinton. General clinton would send officers in secret to try to break through the american lines and deliver updates, but none of those messages ever got through. Much isolated and in the dark about what was occurring south of albany. Weeks,e waited for 2. 5 every day, hoping something would occur, so that his spies and scouts would be able to inform him that datess army was weakened. Ess army was no reinforcements were ever sent by Horatio Gates. Instead, state militias were ordered out by state governments. New hampshire, massachusetts, connecticut, and new york. They were arriving in gatess camp, bolstering his numbers. When the battle was fought, Horatio Gatess army consisted of just over 8000 officers and men, just a few hundred less than what the british had at the time. As the weeks wore on, by the seventh of october, the second battle of october, Horatio Gatess army numbered over 12,000 officers and men, every one of those reinforcements in the form of militia. Horatio gatess strategy was simple. His was a strategy of defense. His job was to defend albany from invasion. He had no dictate to attack, or to try to battle his army. What he wanted nothing more was for them to return to canada, which was the expectation. As it was, he never retreated after the battle of freemans farm, so Horatio Gates was waiting for him to make the next move. By the time of the seventh of october, 1777, general burgoyne had waited 2. 5 weeks for general clinton to do something in the Hudson Highlands. Although clinton made an attack, a very successful attack, it drew no reinforcements from gatessarmy army. Time was very much against burgoyne. His army was isolated and he was losing men every day through attrition, skirmishes, disease, attrition, and his Food Supplies were running lower and lower every day. General burgoyne came to decide he had to put things into his own hands. He devised a plan. On the seventh of october, he would move out with 1500 officers and men. The forces would move towards Horatio Gatess camp. Thatal burgoyne determined to view the to try American Point of defense for himself. Upon viewing the american lines of defense from a distance, he would make the determination whether or not to attack the next day. If the american lines looked to be too strong, he would go back to his camp, wait a few more days, hope for more time to pass in which clinton might make more of a showing of himself against gatess rear, and then if nothing happened, begin his retreat toward canada from whence he came. When general burgoyne moved out with his probing force of 1500 officers and men, they came upon a wheat field, in fact two wheatfields next to each other. This was very convenient for general burgoyne, because his army needed that wheat. While the probing force waited for harvesters to cut the wheat and harvest it, his probing force literally lines up, sits down, and waits for this to be finished with so they could continue on their half south toward the american lines of defense. As it is, the american command was informed of general burgoyne s movement. The americans interpreted his movement as a means of attack. They thought the british were out to attack them, so Horatio Gates ordered an attack on the british line at the wheatfield. The attack commences. It fails. General benedict arnold, Horatio Gatess third in command, reports the situation to general gates and says, general gates, you must send a stronger force. He says, give me some men and we shall have them before sunset. E approves the attack that general arnold devised. Although the initial attack was unsuccessful, general arnold leads a massive attack against the british lines, and in less than one hour the british are beaten off the field. They are scattered, with the americans in hot pursuit. The british, the survivors anyway, all run to the british light infantry readout, a fortification they built on freemans farm, where most of the first battle was fought. The british get to that fortification. The American Forces under arnolds direction make an attack on it, but it is unsuccessful. However, other American Forces are going to move north of the british light infantry redoubt and attempt a strike where we are located right now. The entrenchment, located here, consisted of not much more than defended by somewhere between 200 and 250 german soldiers and american loyalist soldiers. The defenses were overwhelmed from the front, as well as from the flanks, by american and continental militia forces. One of the decisive moments in the attack on the entrenchment occurred right here, where we are standing. About a dozen riflemen from virginia and pennsylvania came through the back flank of the fortification, which was completely open. The german defenders were caught unawares. The riflemen were joined by benedict arnold. Benedict arnold had led the attack, left the attack and rode over here when he saw what was occurring at the entrenchment. He wanted to be part of this attack, and indeed he was. Although the attack was brilliantly successful and the American Forces were able to capture this fortification, the defenders retreated in a panic through the woods, trying to save their own lives. Benedict arnold himself was severely wounded in the left leg. This was the second time he was wounded in the left leg during the war. After the second battle of saratoga was over, general burgoyne realized that his refensive positions we untenable and he had no choice but to retreat back to the north. The following day, on the eighth of october, his army began to retreat. His army only made it eight miles north up saratoga battlefield. The American Army commanded by Horatio Gates was in hot pursuit. The American Army caught up with general Burgoynes Army at a place then known as saratoga. Today it is known as the villages of schuylerville and victory. General burgoyne gets to the village of saratoga. General gates begins to surround his army. After a few days of siege and a few days of negotiations, general burgoyne surrendered his army on the 17th of october, 1777. The surrender is often called the turning point of the revolutionary war. A british army had never surrendered before in the history of the world, before general burgoyne surrendered his at saratoga. Burgoynes surrender at saratoga was a major factor in bringing about the French Alliance. We had had envoys, ambassadors to france, who were trying to get the french to side with the United States, but so far they were not biting, at least insofar as in official alliance. However, with burgoynes surrender, our envoys had the piece they needed to bring about the french, to convince them to not only recognize the United States as a real, legitimate country, but also to become our formal allies. In february of 1778, the french signed a treaty of alliance and a treaty of amity and commerce, and it is with this French Alliance that we eventually won the revolutionary war. The last major battle engagement occurred in yorktown, virginia, in 1781. Most of the personnel on the American Forces side were actually french. We would not have won yorktown without french naval and army assistance. We would not have had french assistance without saratoga. Americanekend long, history tv is joining our spectrum Cable Partners to showcase the history of Saratoga Springs, new york. To learn more about the cities on our current tour, visit www. Cspan. Org citiestour. We continue now with our look at the history of Saratoga Springs. Third of thet a geography of new york state, a wide swath of upstate new york. One of the most exciting things about my district is that it is steeped in revolutionary war history. Saratoga springs, ira percent half of saratoga county. When you grow up in upstate new york, you truly grow up around our nations founding history. The battle of saratoga was one of the most important battles of the world, because it turned the tide of the revolutionary war. So for school kids that are growing up, the fact that they can learn about saratoga battlefields as part of their curriculum and actually visit the battlefield with their teachers or their family, it is so tremendously powerful. This district is very independent. If you look at many of our local electeds and federal elected vote for, people go fo the individual who they think will be the strongest advocate for their communities and their region. I think i reflect the viewpoints of the district, and i also reflect my generation. If you were to ask millennials, and i am an older millennial, if you consider that demographic group, they are looking for new, innovative ways in terms of how we govern as a nation. I was 28 when i started the process of running for congress. I turned 29 and 30 over the course of my first campaign. When i ran for office, i talked about the fact that i was young, i talked about the need for new ideas and a new generation of leadership in washington. Initially i think people criticize my youth, but it ended up being a real strength, because people are looking for new ideas, new energy. I also use digital outreach in innovative ways that are reflective of my generation. I post every single vote on facebook, which is transparent and it allows accountability, so my constituents know what i am doing. I also post my schedule so that people can see where i am spending time in my district and who i am meeting with. It is a honor every day to listen and learn and be an advocate for the communities i represent. Gideon putnam settled in what is now Saratoga Springs in 1789, but the history of this area goes back much farther than that. Mesn us as we talk with ja from the Saratoga History Museum about the different eras that shaped the city. The Saratoga Springs History Museum is one of the oldest museums in upstate new york. We were founded in 1883 as the Historical Society of saratoga, and our mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit items related to the history of Saratoga Springs specifically. The exhibit we will be going through is our orientation exhibit, which tells us the story of the history of Saratoga Springs from prehistoric times all the way to the 20th century. The first part of the exhibit that we will look at, Saratoga Springs in prehistoric times through the early 18th century. One of the most important things about saratoga is the spring water. Native americans had visited for hundreds of years to drink the spring water, because they believed it had healing properties. Alle high a spring cv rock spring, which had built up from mineral deposits. The natives, especially mohawks, came here to drink the water and hunted around saratoga lake. We have many artifacts related to the native americans, some dating back almost thousands of years, found along the lake itself. One artifact we would like to show here is a piece of the deposit from high rock spring. If you visited the spring today, it looks like a small little volcano, you could say. That is just a buildup of the Mineral Springs. Through the 19th century, people would come to visit and they would ship pieces of it away to take as souvenirs. This was a piece that somebody had as a souvenir, and we were able to get it back and keep it as a souvenir in the museum. The first prominent settlers in Saratoga Springs were in the 1780s, but the first entrepreneur who we like to say really developed downtown saratoga was Gideon Putnam. Putnam built the tavern and boarding house in 1802 on what is now broadway in saratoga. We have one artifact that relates to that building, my personal favorite in our entire collection, a tavern sign that we have. It was painted by his wife in the year 1802, and the sign depicts a relative of theirs, israel putnam. She is hanging upside down in the painting. It is said he is calling down into a hole where a wolf had crawled down in. The wolf had been marauding sheep, and he went out with a Hunting Party and pull out the wolf with his bare hands. This was so important to the family and also the community the hometown in connecticut there are still historical markers talking about this. When the putnams came here, they sign. On their tavern that is the first thing you would have seen if you were a traveler coming to downtown Saratoga Springs. Throughout the rest of the early part of the exhibit, we talk about the early settlement of the city, especially the spring waters. This is a portrait of dr. John steele, who did the first treatise on the Mineral Springs of saratoga in 1817. We took samples of many of the Mineral Springs and analyze what minerals and contents each spring had. It was determined, depending on what your ailment was, you could drink from a different spring to treat that. You need things to do when you come to Saratoga Springs besides drinking water, so major hotels were constructed. There was an opera house, there were plays, dances you could attend, and also other things you could do for fun, which might include gambling or watching horse racing. In this area of the exhibit, we still really focus on the spring water, because after all, thats what we are here for. In this area, we have some original saratoga water bottles. One is from Congress Springs, which is still corked off and has the original water in it from i would guess somewhere around 1870. This is called a dipper. At the Mineral Springs, there would be boys and girls who would work. They would put the getter down in the dipper down in the water and get you a drink and you would give them a tip. If you came to Saratoga Springs, the mineral water is always, was always free at the spring. That was very traditional. As a rule, Gideon Putnam had started that in the early 19th century. If you were to purchase a bottle of Saratoga Spring water, it would have been pretty expensive. That is something that put saratoga on the map. Bottles of mineral water were shipped all over the world in the 19th century. Most of the springs actually had Diuretic Properties and would work as a laxative. That is one thing that came along with 19th century medicine. If you came to saratoga, you were probably not coming on vacation, but you might come from the south or from new york city, and he will have a prescription from your doctor. The doctors went and used the analysis of the spring waters, and they would say, ok, in the morning you will go to Congress Spring and have a drink followed by a brisk walk. Then you will go to high rock spring, and have a brisk walk. And all of this was to try to create a healthy body, but also to alleviate any digestive issues that you might have. Springst, so saratoga had a history of gambling. In the late 19th century, we had here what recalled gentleman gamblers, who went to the club houses that were owned by some of the wealthiest men in america. After their closures in the 20th century, we had a period where gambling wind down for a bit, but by the 1920s and 1930s, it picked up, and thats why we when we like to say the gangsters came to Saratoga Springs. One of the most famous was arnold rothstein. He was a young man when he came to Saratoga Springs, and in 199008 family has called the brook, located a little on the outskirts of the history city just outside saratoga hospital. Highendould have entertainment in the front rooms, and in the back rooms the gambling would take place. Gambling was always illegal in Saratoga Springs, but with the clientele it through and the money it brought to the city, everybody looked the other way. There was a story about the brook, and the 1930s, where there was going to be a police raid. The police went to the front door at 8 00 p. M. , knocked on the door and said, we have to check the place out. They went through, room after room, and did not find anything. They finally got to the third floor and there was a locked door, and the maitre d said, theres a little old lady in the room, shes really tired, she doesnt feel well. We would appreciate it if you dont go in that room. So everybody agreed. The police left, and they say within about half an hour the place was running again. Everybody knew what was happening, but these places drew a lot of money into saratoga. A federal inquiry into gambling and corruption in Saratoga Springs essentially shut down all the gambling here. With the demise of gambling, and soon after that with the construction of the interstate 87 that went by the city, tourists no longer had to drive straight through Saratoga Springs. They could bypass us to go north into the adirondacks. That started to change the dynamic of the city. We had all these massive hotels here, that housed thousands and thousands of people, more than we even have today, and all of this started to decline. By the 1950s, we called this the period of decline in serotonin, and it really saratoga, and it really continued until 1956, when the Saratoga Performing Arts Center came in. That brought the new york city ballet, the philadelphia orchestra, and it started a rebirth of the city. In 1984, we have the city center constructed. That started to bring conventions, more tourism, and the rest really is history. The city revitalized itself, and even through the economic decline a few years ago, this city was one of the few in the country still growing, and today still is. Now Saratoga Springs is a Tourist Destination. So we are really proud of how our city has had its ups and downs, but has really built itself up to be one of the strongest communities in upstate. Our spectrum Cable Partners worked with cspan cities tour staff when we traveled to Saratoga Springs, new york. The citys located about 200 miles north of new york city, and about 280 miles east of buffalo. Learn more about Saratoga Springs, all weekend here on American History tv. We are going to drive up here, out of Historic Congress park, and take a right onto broadway. The park is by far one of the jewels of the city of saratoga, not only because of its location, but it is steeped in the great history of saratoga. We were the number one Tourist Destination in the United States in the 1800s. So anybody who was anybody came to Saratoga Springs. In Saratoga Springs, we took a driving tour of the city with Saratoga Tours owner. They came because of one main thing. It is all about the water. That is the founding location of the city, high rock springs. That was visited for hundreds, if not thousands of years, by the native americans indigenous to this area, which were the mohawk. They came and drank the waters. A mohawksaratoga is term meaning place of the great salt springs. The springs, you can still drink from them. Do people do that a lot here . Yes, especially the locals. If you have been here the majority of your life, probably, as a result, there is a fair amount of bottling. People will bring containers or bottles and fill them on a daily basis. We have 17 of them. They are different depths, different tastes. Taste how not you would expect, not like bottled water out of your tap. The mineral waters have so many trace elements. Ton of different trace elements, and as a result these trace elements give, along with a few other inherent salts and things like that, a very pungent taste. Where to next . We will loop around a little bit, take you up, take a look at what they thought of as camps in the 1800s lets take a look. This is north broadway. These are they hallowed it houses that were built in the 1800s as summer cottages. They refer to this to go camping. Without question, almost any element of the victorian architecture can be found appeared. We have new homes that are here along with a mix of the ones from the 1800s. This became the destination for people in the 1800s to come to saratoga after the american civil war. They came to the waters, they took baths, etc. Eventually, they became bored with their surroundings. Then we added the gambling and the horseracing, and a lot of other things. You are talking about a lot of other things. Right now we are going down broadway. What is this area now . There are a lot of shops and restaurants. It is a vibrant downtown. We cater to Convention Groups that are in saratoga along with the daily, weekly, and seasonal travelers. Is our heart. The center of the city is what makes everything happen. The top of the hill, wideout we take a right and we will head ourselves over to the racetrack. We are here at the race track. This is our oklahoma training track. There are no competitive races that are held here. A facility inly which to train. We open probably in mid april and close about the first week of november. People come into the come to Saratoga Springs, one common thing to enjoy in the morning is to come over here at first light up until about 10 00 in the morning, park here and look across and see the horses out on the track. This training track is an economic boom. How did the racing industry become so popular here . People come in for the waters. They came for the waters, and then they became bored. With being healthy. They needed some set some kind of outlet. Who was a group of men responsible for the building of , he brings the idea of racing to saratoga. Starting in 1864, the construction of the presentday tracks took place. We are going to drive the backside of the track and give you an idea as we look across. Eventually, just the layout of our thoroughbred track. The area on the left. It is a very beautiful track. The facilities there are great. It is a historic track in the sense that it has not been modernized to the point where you can put 100 50,000 people there. You can put 50,000 in a very beautiful setting. And really look at it the way it was operating in the 1870s, 1880s, early 1900s. What is the big race that takes place here . They traverse race is that the grace of the season. There is our track right there. It is a mile and an eighth dirt track. What is the traverse known for . The traverse is the oldest race. It has a lot of great history. Unfortunately, saratoga has gotten the nickname of the graveyard of champions. Any of the greatest sources of all times have come here only to be met with defeat. In 1973, a secretary came here after winning the triple crown. I was there that day. I could not believe my eyes. What are we seeing now . So hes being pulled by horses. This is not the thoroughbred racing we talked about earlier at our main track. This is hard harness racing. It is a different variety of racing. We are not restricted by the notht of the jockey, and the jockey writing on the horse, but being polled in a sulky, or a cart behind. This is a different type of racing. Quiteerally does not get as much attention as the thoroughbred racing. But we have a nice facility here. This was built in 1941. It became one of the fastest halfmile holders in the country. 20ay, it is backed up with 300 slot machines, electronic gambling machines in the back. What would you like to see happen for your city and what do think is in the works for Saratoga Springs . I think of things are in the works. We have hardworking local people that are constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience for people to come here and for people who live here. Is, i think, the deadly problem of development of any city. You dont want it to get out of control. You want growth, you want controlled growth. Our schools are good. The environment is safe. The city is beautiful. We have a True Community feeling here in saratoga. There are so many people that work so hard without any real payback, except the satisfaction that you are doing a good job in the city. All ofs life better for us and the people in the generations to come. Thank you so much for showing us around. My pleasure. Here where cspans learning more about the areas history. The name of the city reflects the presence of Mineral Springs. Up next, we learn why these springs have been drawing visitors to the city for the last few hundred years. This is one of the only places east of the rock is that has naturally carbonated mineral water out of the ground. If anything else, it is a cool park. It is a beautiful place for people to experience a rare, geological thing. Sir took a park was first created as a state reservation in 1909. And later became saratogas park. Today, it is a 2500 acre park with a number of amenities manyere from a hotel, different Mineral Springs, to enjoy, and 12 miles of hiking trails. There are 12 springs in the park. Two of them are freshwater springs. Through a layer of sand anywhere between zero and 100 feet deep. They dont pick up those minerals. We also have Mineral Springs throughout the park. They very in depth anywhere from 200 to 1000 feet deep. Depending on their depth, their taste grows stronger the deeper they are. We have polaris springs which is a little spatter alongside the geyser luke road. We have the iconic one behind me. Is hayes and we have our brenda up the hill. We have caressed up back in the woods. There are a few Mineral Springs that are up near route 50 on the west side of the park that people used to come and visit. You can see it from the railroad. They would send it off at a future for times a day. Our is our number three, strongest spring. And clarice a. All of our mineral water is carbonated. Along with that, you have drive pockets of carbonic gas that is pushing the water out of the earth. Imagine if you shook a sprite bottle, and it is compressed, that air is compressed, and you let it go. The pressure shoots out. None of these are technically geysers. They are called souders. Geysers are propelled by hot water and steam. None of our springs have hot water at all. They run at a constant 55 degrees. Springs were first believed to have been found by the native americans who came to this place because of its a good hunting grounds. That the animals around here used the Mineral Springs as cellblocks, almost. Thes interesting to think animals and native americans here first, and then having them discover the Mineral Springs. They say they believe it has healing qualities to them. In the late 1700s, they started to introduce the white settlers to these springs and their healing properties. Between the 1700s and a late 1800s, saratoga grew and grew and there are many private Mineral Wells being drilled. There was a lot of spas opening in the city, and everybody was coming in here to take the cure. In the 1880s, someone discovered that there is also a dry carbonic gas pass underneath the earth. You could harness that carbonic gas for use in sodas. Which were very popular in the victorian area. What happened is we have these big carbonic Gas Companies come in and mainly in this area of the park, they started to drill wells that were very powerful. Depleted our Mineral Springs to the point where if you had a private well, perhaps it was going dry, or at least getting lower. Some springs disappeared completely. It was all because of these carbonic gas drillers exploiting the springs. 1909, the state reservation was created in order to save the Mineral Springs. That is Saratoga Springs own conservation story. At the time, i believe there was 200 wells operating. We have shut all of about 21 down. It takes years and years for them to come back up as they once were. Between 1900 and 1935, we had an interest in creating a spot in the United States. There were spas in europe that were doing well. They wanted to see if that would work in america. We did send out scientists to study the spas and bring back that information in the hopes we could create a spot here. The governor at the time had a creating this spot complex that opened in july of 1935. It consisted of a place where you could go to drink the water, research laboratory, two bathhouses, and a hotel. He would stay in his hotel for about two or three weeks. Depending on what failed you, they would prescribe a water to andwhich you could then go drink from the spring. The bathhouses were there for people that might be suffering from arthritis. They believed the bubbles in the water increased your circulation or improved it. As people were suffering from arthritis, they might be taking a bath at the roosevelt bathhouse. In their heyday around the late were giving 3200 baths a day. 170 5000 a year. After the 1950s, it started to decline in popularity. People were not willing to spend three days at the spa or three weeks. There were new medicines being created. Declinedecame gradually. By the 1960s, we shifted our focus to conservation and creating recreational opportunities for patrons. Springs and the park are unique area. We have people who visit from all over the world. We are one of the only properties that have natural carbonated Mineral Springs coming out of the ground for people to experience and enjoy. I think that is what makes saratoga wedded his. The Mineral Springs. I believe it is important for people to be able to experience them in order to conserve them, in order to keep people caring about the springs. All weekend, American History tv is featuring Sarasota Springs, new york. Author of the memoir 12 years a slave was a local abolitionist. His memoirs were later adapted into a motion picture. Learn more about cerda said Sarasota Springs all week on American History tv. My district is located in the capital region, northern hudson valley. It is an area rich in history and heritage. Very much in in an inspiration to the westward movement, Industrial Revolution sparked by an erie canal, a waterway that was developed by then governor clinton. Saratoga springs is a great tourism attraction. ,n native american expression there were names applied to this place that spoke to the moving water, mineral waters that were seen as a source of healing. That drove a lot of attention and a settlement to the area. So that it had that underpinning of natural element. When you ask about the tie policy initiatives or area, itns and policy would be about energy and environment. Sometimes, the linkage is not and it isenough, cited against water and energy, a lot of given opportunities for us to be innovative. With water efficiency and energy efficiency. But also the sense of the environment. I serve on energy commerce, but i am the rancor, the top democrat on the subcommittee of environment that reports to energy and commerce. The stewardship of our environment is absolutely essential. When you think of the pristine that engulfs saratoga, the fact that we have these naturally carbonated mineral waters, that is something that speaks to your senses. You want to make certain that preserve thee to quality and the richness and the absolute beauty of these waters. We are at the Saratoga Springs History Museum, home of a casino. Join us for a tour of the casinos in peace interior as we learn about the gambling history. When i think about a historic building, there are Historic Buildings all over the country. What is so important about this building . What it showed us is this is part of the development of not only the high victorian era, but it is a snapshot in time of what life was like in the late 1800s. Hadwhat a discrepancy we between the wealthiest of the wealthy who would come here and waste their money on it millions of dollars in a summer gambling, compared to the folks, say, the irish immigrants who lived on the west side of saratoga where the employees who built these buildings. Calledlding marion is camfield casino today. In the 19th century when it was constructed, it was the saratoga clubhouse. The gentleman that held this, really thesey, he is story of success. He immigrated to america as a young boy with his family. He came from ireland. The central settled in troy. It is a city not far from Saratoga Springs. As a young immigrant boy, you probably did not have a lot going for him. Ontook a job working steamships, travel back and forth in new york city, spent became new york, and involved in the street gangs, or the gangs in new york city. The gang he became head of was in new york. He was a charismatic guy. Very intelligent. He was a selfmade man. He ended up being connected with tammany hall for a point when tammany hall was connected with all the gains that were running the wharfs. Talents andis skills as an intelligent person, earns money, gains notoriety among the society in america, and ends up becoming elected into congress. Ahe is battering bettering himself, he turns on tammany hall. There are some satirical fun ofs that made morsi. They show this tough guy as a reformer but also with money in his back pocket. He comes to Saratoga Springs in 1862 with the idea of opening a gambling house appear. He knew how successful target saratoga was becoming. Your printed on the west side. The following year, he becomes one of the founding members of the Saratoga Racing Association which today has morphed into what is our saratoga racetrack. In the areaack was called horse haven, it was an older track. It was a harness track. He was the first person to bring thoroughbred in saratoga. In 1863, they moved to the track across the street. They built it where the current track is even though it doesnt follow the exact dimensions. That is when we have the beginnings of racings. Morsi it starts raising and he realizes there are more ways to make money than just saw forces. He purchases the land where our building is now. At that time, this is another downtown city block. There are other buildings, and he sees it as a great place to do it because the street that ends in our part used to travel all the way up to the racetrack. People could go to the track during the day. In the evenings, they could play games. In 1870, he opens the building as a saratoga clubhouse. He wanted to call this the saratoga casino. He was asked by local Community Leaders not to use that name because gambling was illegal in Saratoga Springs. Everyone looks the other way on a because of the money it would draw in. As a private club house, you had to be a member to play. A membership was very expensive. Only the wealthiest players in america would come here. No residents were allowed to play here. The last thing he wanted was somebody local come in this establishment and lose their money. And then they knock on his door and it looks bad for the guy who is running the illegal business. The stakes were high for any casino. In theegan at one dollar main gambling parlors downstairs. They went up to 100 chips. In a room we are in now, this was called the highstakes gambling room. Began at 10. They carried a 10,000 tip. Standards, by todays standards, that is over 100,000 or more. Very rough life, from and he was docks, susceptible to pneumonia. For a year,to it and he died in his suite at the hotel which was on broadway. Startedre, the building to go down. Albert spencer and charles reed took over the building. They ran the casino for a number of years. One was undercutting the other. The New York Times had a great article that said the casino is nothing like it used to be. The walls are now whitewashed, the artwork is off the walls, and any of sorts are coming in to. That is when Richard Canfield swoops in. He buys them out in 1894. He decides he is going to bring this building up to what it is. Even thoughding is, it is officially called the clubhouse, most people start to collect canfields casino. He is a lover of art, and he starts to bring the Building Back to its victorian era. The gamblers are starting to come back here. Probably one of the most famous people to come to Saratoga Springs. Atre is a story where he was the racetrack during the day and 350ost somewhere around thousand dollars, he came here to play, and they say by the end of the night, he was down another hundred thousand dollars. He asked canfields to raise the stakes. By the next day, by the morning, he was down 150,000. He said it was a good day. It is outrageous the amount of money spent. Jim brady who was one of the most colorful cat characters of the 19th century, he was a jovial guy, very wealthy, wore diamond jewelry, and he had his good friend who was an actor. These are the folks that would have been coming in. Canfields still ran a successful is us. It is the turn of the century. There is starting to be an essence of antigambling in saratoga. He faces a very heavy pressure to close in 1904 and 1905. By the end of 1906, Richard Canfield shuts the building down. In 1911, the city of Saratoga Springs purchase the building. They bought it for 100 50,000. Considering a few years before, money andunk restoration. In 1912, our museum was homeless. Our collection had gone from Board Members house to Board Members house. Someone said, we have this casino in city ownership. In 1912 to upstairs we have been in here ever since. Expanded a bit from the one room. This was the highstakes room. This was our original display room. Now we encompass all three rooms floors. With 15,000 objects that tell the story. If you dont preserve a building like this, then you cant tell the entire story. History isf american not just about the rich and wealthy. It is not just about the folks the immigrants, and the working class that built to the country. It is about all of it combined if we let this go, you let everything go Everything Else go, too. The history of Saratoga Springs cannot be told without including horse racing. Ellens as we talk with carter, historian and author about the history of horse racing and this racecourse. Horseracing is important because it is the oldest sport in the country. Has the premier track in the country. It makes the most money. In 1863, John Morrissey who owned a bunch of casinos in town wanted something for his people to do in the daytime. He thought maybe they might like to have they might like to do horseracing. He had a fourday meet and it was held at what is called the old trotting track, built in 1849. One of the problems was the track was not a good facility at all. It was so popular, they charged one dollar a person to come in. He still made money off it after four days. Considering the fact that it was a very bad horse show because of the civil war, courses are movement,to the war and they needed it for the north and south, but somehow he got these horses together and it was such a success. He knew he could not use his track anymore. He got people together including hutter,travers, john and leonard jerome, and they got the money to build the new track over at la crosse over across the street. It opened in august 2, 1864. The first race of that day was the travers race. It about us held in honor of William Travers who was the president of the association. I have to say one thing about morrissey. He was a smart guy. He knew from his background man, but he was smart. He knew that if he was ahead of the association, he would lose favor. If they made traverse the head, he was probably the most popular person in the in new york city. He was a figurehead. Morrissey pulled the strings. They they are off. They have opened up a 5, 6 league lead. They have left the field really behind. What a performance and astest travers ever new track record it just got better and better as the years went on. Saratoga was slowly built for with hotels. That was about the only real track in the eastern United States. Decide whowe were to the heroes were of the saratoga, has to be 5050 between morrissey and whitney. He hired a professional landscaper to put in shrubs and trees, a lot of paint. He brought back all the old races including the travers and including the alabama and a saratoga cup. Everybody came back to saratoga. From then on, it was a great success. One of the great race horses of all time. And a war was synonymous with saratoga. Wonas brought here and he six and lost one. The one he lost was a famous. 25 favors. They didnt have any starting gate. He had to be good to keep the horses in line and get a good equal start. Mars cassidy called in sick. They had to have a placing judge star the horse, and he was terrible at it. He could not get him off at all. He was started him off, either backwards or sideways. We dont have any film of it. It is just eyewitnesses. He was not ready for the race. Last and heng dead made up a ton of ground. He only lost by half a length. It was the only loss of his career. He was one of the greatest horses who lived. In 1942, they banned any racing upstate for travers. Before 1944tdown and opened up again in 1946. After the war, they realized saratoga was not as popular as jamaica, belmont, downstate. There were about 50,000 inhabitants are you have a couple Million People downstate. What they did, they bought the jamaica,ks, which was belmont, and saratoga. They sold jamaica. They added a belmont and saratoga. In 1957, there was a movement to have concurrent racing in august. They would have a racing in saratoga and the raising at belmont which would have killed saratoga. They could not do it. Luckily, Gabriel Herriman was the governor of new york. He was a horseman. The city forefathers got together and not only did they convince him to convince folksator to give 24 days for racing. It saved saratoga. Saratoga, 19 78, the travers state. A mile and a quarter. Affirmed. Al don firm ran in the travers. There was a huge event because he was one of the greatest rivalry in horseracing history. 55,000 people came. 55,000,ssing of that 3000 have never been to saratoga before. Missing something here. They started coming back. Synonymous with that is the city fathers realized that downtown saratoga was a disaster, which it was. You could move a bowling ball down broadway and it wouldnt hurt anybody. And itxed themselves worked to all of a sudden, people are coming in, restaurants are popping up. After 1970, 1980, we are the tale of what the tales that wag the dogs. It was never the case before. Saratoga saw almost all the great horses that ever lived. They are off. In 2015, it was a triple crown winner. They had a public work out for him and they announced anybody who can come, and 50,000 people showed up. Lasted five minutes. That is saratoga. We love our horses. Announcer yet oh is a 4000 acre estate, located in Saratoga Springs. Established as a haven for writers and artists, it houses which00 artists a year included 74 Pulitzer Prize winners. And a nobel prize winner. With the help of our spectrum Cable Partners, we continue to explore the history of Saratoga Springs with a memoirs of former president ulysses s. Grant. When grant arrived at the here hend here is is very ill, if you left before he passes away, and is seeing this great beauty, this valley that once saw conflict and and where our nation was born, was now a Peaceful Valley where farmers were working. He mustve taken some satisfaction in that he was a part of the Great American story. We are on Mount Mcgregor in upstate new york. Only a few miles north of Saratoga Springs. The significance of this Historic Site is this was the final home of several war general and president ulysses s grant. This is the place where you leases grant penned his memoirs in 1885. He was dying of throat cancer. His family was facing serious financial problems. Life, heoint in his was a man trying to take care of his family. We get to tell the story here that most people dont know about. His second term as him and his wife went on a world tour for two years from 1877 to 79. He met many world leaders. He was well respected around the world. When they arrived back in the states, in 1879, they were looking for a place to settle because they had him out of the white house two years earlier. For grant, it was an easy decision even though they owned multiple properties in the United States. Grant, becauser he was always a devoted family man was to be close to family. He chose a location where his adult sons were living, which was new yorks three. They moved into a home in the Upper East Side of manhattan. Their children lived in nearby ,nd they enjoyed a few years you can take, out of the limelight, enjoying the winters in new york city with family and summers with the entire family at their new jersey cottage. Grant, when he arrived back from his world tour, was in need of income among which is a head scratcher for most people. And president al and people wonder why he didnt have a pension of any kind. His militaryup pension to take the presidency. At the end of his presidency, there was no pension at that time. He was making his own way in the world. He had spent a lot of money on the world were. His son, they called him buck, he had got it involved and wall street investment. He got his father involved in the formed a firm with a man named Ferdinand Ward. They named the firm grant and ward. Avestments went well for wild. The early 1880s were very comfortable times. Money was coming in for the firm. Everything started to collapse in the final year of grants life. He ended up having a slip and a fall on the icy sidewalk in new york city. That put him in put him in britain for a couple weeks. , he arrived at the office and found that there was a major financial crisis. Hisad to get a loan from friend for 150,000 to keep the firm afloat. He brought this money to their business partner, and Ferdinand Ward who had been doing the thought maybe this would help the firm survive. In fact, he found out soon afterwards that ward was a crook and he had been running a ponzi scheme the entire time. The grants it hit the family like a bombshell. They were financially devastated because they had invested heavily in this firm. The whole family had. Way toy had to find a make money. Grant felt personally responsible. He encouraged his family and others to invest in this firm. Even though he was a victim, he felt personally responsible. And wanted to a back his debts. The grants were not a difficult were in a difficult situation financially because of the scandal. They packed up and moved out to the new jersey cottage in the summer of 1884 to figure out what they were going to do for the future. To rebuild their lives financially. Was approached by century magazine at this time, a big magazine company, to write articles. Grant had been pestered to be an author for many years. He had always resisted because other people had written about him, and he did not think he would be much of the author much of an author. Most of all, he didnt need the money, either. They knew they had him in a corner because he didnt need the money. They offered him 500 per article, enough to keep the family afloat. Writing articles about the civil war in the summer of 1884 at the new jersey cottage. That is when his writing career began. That was a way to bring in some money. There was going to have to be a work of literature to be able to bring his family out of the debt they were in. His writing career kind of shaky. His first article was seen as more of a dry, military report. Far astor even went so to remark that essentially it may be the second disaster of shiloh because it was on the battle of shiloh agnes may be the second disaster of shiloh. It was a poorly written article. This editor came down to visit grant of the new jersey cottage talked with him freely. He said, would you tell me about the civil war . Grant started talking and telling him stories. He told the grand coming he said that is the material people want to read. Grant came into his own as an author in the summer of 1884. By the end of the summer, he started to have an idea that maybe this writing career could hisuce more money for family. Right around the same time, this entry mac century magazine was wanting to push him to write a larger book that could be sold. The century magazine told them wouldtold him tjhe publish it. He started working on it. As grant was working on the articles in the summer of 1884, he ended up starting to have this propane. It started with a very bad staying in the back of his throat he felt as he was eating a peach. He kind of shrugged it off as maybe being a wasp for something that was on the fruit when he ate it. It kind of persisted. It kept coming back. He ignored it because his regular doctor was away in europe and he wanted to see his regular doctor. Ignored it. Ust, and said he would see his doctor in the fall, essentially. They did not think much of it at the time. He had been a smoker since the civil war. Maybe it was just smoke and his throat. With hisued working writing career until the fall of 1884 when he finally went to the doctor. And they moved back to new york city. Up going to his regular doctor who knew there was a serious problem is seen as he looked at his throat. He sent him to a throat specialist. Douglassto dr. Office and dr. Douglas looked at his throat and grant looked at douglasface and said, is a cancer . Is it cancer . The doctor had to tell him it was cancer. Grant worked on his memoirs throughout the winter of 1884, 1885, and where the spring of 1885, it was touch and go. He had a couple of neardeath experiences. His doctors believed to the only way he would survive long enough to finish his book was to get him out of the city which was humid and dusty and hot to a mountaintop environment. That is what they did with a lot of ailing people. They were looking for opportunities. A friend of the family, joseph drexel, approached the doctors in the grant family to offer them the use of his cottage he purchased on the top of Mount Mcgregor. Just above Saratoga Springs. The cottage that mr. Drexel wasred to the grants fairly modest in size. But did have six rooms upstairs and a few rooms downstairs. It had been originally a small inn built by duncan mcgregor. It was moved to accommodate the expansion of the resort in the early 1880s. And the resort was expanded to a 100int where there was room hotel just above the cottage. The whole property was turned into a big victorian wilderness resort, you could call it. Mountaintop wilderness resort with wonderful overlooks and pathways. Air. Bviously, wonderful there was one advertisement for the hotel that said, if we dont cure your hayfever, your stay is free. Mountain air was seen as curative up a time. When grant and his party left new york city on the morning of june 16, 1865, he was in poor condition. The day he arrived, it was incredibly hot. It was difficult. Once he got off the train and came up to the cottage, he immediately got changed, came back out on the porch, and the mountain air seemed to revive him. And it seemed to have a good effect on him right away. Most importantly, he was able to be with his entire family here at the cottage. Grantshead into bedroom. This is where grant would have come in from the outdoors. One thing you will notice that is missing here is a bed. Normally, there is a bed in a bedroom. Unfortunately, because of his condition, he ended up having to sleep sitting up. In oned have his feet side and setting up and setting up in the other. This is where he would work on his memoirs. This is also where his nurses or his doctors, which he had three doctors on call and two nurses, would administer any medicine or try to give him nourishment. It is very hard for him to eat with his throat condition. Most of these items you original. They were provided for the grant family by mr. Drexel. These two chairs i mentioned, these did come up from new york city with the grants. Grant wrote in these. These tor. Drexel left become a memorial, his son left his fathers personal belongings. We have very personal items here. Show that grant was here and he was at home here. And that he went through some very tough times here. ,e have his food bowl hairbrushes, toothbrushes, theings, his clothing beaver hat he is wearing in the photograph, we also have the food mashing equipment used to process his food so he could try to take nourishment. Interesting, we have grants original medicine. The bottle with the original liquid. Most people guess that what they were using for medication is Something Like morphine or some heavy sedative like that. The only problem was granted could not take medicine like that because it was too powerful. He would not be able to concentrate on working on his book. A newctors settled on substance at the time, a little controversial. It was cocaine. The bottle was actually cocaine and they would stir that up and they would apply it on his throat to give him pain relief so he could keep concentrated on that work of finishing his family. When grant arrived, you can imagine this man was internationally famous. The train car behind his familys train car was the press car. When they found out that grant was dying in march of 1885, they kept up a 24hour vigil. The followed him up to mountain and camped out across from the cottage in tents and they would run up to the hotel and send telegraph wires to new york city. Earlylso opened the hotel that year. They opened it when the grants arrived, june 16. There was a lot of activity appear. People knew grant was here. He was in the papers every day. He was a spectacle, you could say. Before secret service, the only person that volunteered was a Civil War Veteran, the same age as grant, he was a local civil his earlyn, and in 60s, and he volunteered. They put a tent up for him behind the cottage. He ended up being grants bodyguard. He stood up the bottom of the stairs where grant sat on the porch, and he would tell people to move along, and guarantee grants privacy. Grant made his job difficult because grant, even in the his condition, that these folks who were passing by, he would tip his hat and wave and was very friendly. That is one thing about grant. He was a very unassuming man. You could sit next to him and not know he was famous. No matter how much money he had or fame, and never changed him. He was a simple man, very approachable at all times. Sam got frustrated, he told he said, could you tell your father to be less friendly . He is making my job difficult. Sam went to fred and fred went to his father, who told in the situation. I think what grant said next shows his true character. He said, i dont want to be exclusive, let them come. 1884, there was a bit of buzz in the Literary Community about grant writing a book. Wasof the people that interested in publishing the book, other than sentry magazine that had already made an offer, samuel clemens, better known by his pen name, mark twain. He had started his own publishing firm. And had self published Huckleberry Finn that year, 1884. He shows up at the grant household. He had been a casual friend of general grants since the civil war. He showed up at the household in new york city in the fall of 1884 just as grant was starting his memoirs. He asked the general, could i take a look at your contract . Said, i later on, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. It was the worst contract i had ever seen. It was only offering 10 of the profit. That is totally inappropriate for a man of your stature. He said, i have got a publishing firm. I can offer you 70 of the profits. An incredibly generous offer, especially for a man who was known to be ill. They knew he was ill. Reluctant, a very honorable man. He said, sentry magazine came to me first. You is when saenz said, if remember, the conversation a few years ago, i asked you to write your memoirs then. Grant eventually did go with twains offer. It was impossible to refuse. Mark twain had his nephew in law running his publishing firm, called Charles Webster. Charles webster and company. Him and Charles Webster came up with a plan to sell the web sell the memoirs door to door instead of selling them in bookstores. They would arrive and take preorders door to door. One of the thing mark twain wanted to do was provide an opportunity for Civil War Veterans to be salesman. He would request Civil War Veterans to on there don their uniforms to go door to door. Was a focus of his time. He was a celebrity. Book wasm writing a good for sales. But obviously, having a Civil War Veteran come up to the door, helped to sell them as well. It was door to door sales. There were many thousands of salesman engaged in this across the country. It gave them a way to make money for themselves and also to support their old commander. Twain came to the cottage a few years weeks before he passed away. It was an important meeting. On theas checking progress of the book for grant, the most supportive thing was finding out how well it was selling. He wanted to find out if the book would be a success. That is when twain told him, i have already presold 100,000 copies. And i have not even canvassed two thirds of the country. Grave he going to his had taken care of his family, that he had succeeded. By the time he reached the theage, mark twain believed second volume of his book, of his memoirs was completed. Grant was a perfectionist. Him, as had writing and long as he was alive, he was going to keep writing. He wrote at least another chapter to his book. It was a struggle right to the very end. He kept on it. He wanted the book to be as good as possible. No matter what his physical condition, he always tried to work on the memoirs. Some days he could not get out of bed. Physically. On it,ays, he worked wrote 32 40 pages in one single day. To give you an idea of the scope of this project, they memoirs would eventually beat of hundred pages, almost 300,000 words. This was a major project for someone who would have been a good condition. But to have somebody who was struggling with cancer, this was an incredibly important effort for the sake of his family. Grant worked until the last few days before he passed away. And hefinished his book asked to be taken down to the overlook for one last view of the valley. By the time they arrived back at the cottage, grant was in very poor condition. They knew he did not have long to live. His son, fred, said would you like to lie down . He had been sleeping and chairs for months. They brought a bed down and placed it in the corner. Grant was surrounded by his loving family here on the evening of july 22, 1885. Faces were their anxious, he whispered to his doctors, i dont wish anyone to be alarmed on my account. His final wishes where his family be comfortable. They went up to bed but they came back down the next morning, as he passed away peacefully on this bed, on july 20 third, 1885. 132 years ago. His son, fred, walked over to and a stop dead at 8 08 in the morning. To mark the time when his father passed. It has not been touched since. It is a symbol of the time capsule this place has been kept all these years. Other than leaving a legacy for the country, the history of his life in the civil war that he ant, he also left his family amazing legacy financially. To sell overent on 300,000 copies, and bring in almost 450 thousand dollars for the grant family. In todays money, that would be somewhere between 10 million and 11 million. It was enough for them to get out of debt. And live comfortably the next of their lives. He succeeded in his final battle his finaltage, devotion for his family. Almost immediately after his passing, the owner of the joseph drexel, decided this place would be left as a memorial to u. S. Grant. The way theyeft were when the grant family left. It has been kept that way for the last 132 years. That is why i think this cottage is so important to keep the way it is and to maintain it. Story. Compelling it really gives you that wonderful insight into a relatively misunderstood figure in American History. Ulees ulysses grant. Announcer our staff travel to Saratoga Springs, new york to learn about its rich history. Learn more about Saratoga Springs and other stops on our tour at cspan. Org cities tour. You are watching American History tv, all weekend, every weekend on cspan3. This sunday, unamerican artifact, we visit the Willard Hotel, located two blocks from the white house. It has been a witness to history for 200 years. Here is a preview. It is a very historic spot. It there was a bar in this corner going back to hundred years. Henry clay came to washington in 1808. Also with him came whiskey. Otherwise known as bourbon. The barrel said he brought from Bourbon County were actually stamped with Bourbon County for tax reason. That is how the name evolved for bourbon. He discovered that washingtonians are drinking their juleps, their mint juleps with rum or brandy. He was appalled at this. He decided to show people the proper way to make a southern style mint jewett mint julep. He used to relish in showing a mint julep. Make we continue to practice that legacy here. We use henry clays original recipe. , in theay traditionally beginning of every new session of congress, would bring a barrel of bourbon and he would invite on a bipartisan basis, embers of congress from both sides of the aisle to join him and in testing the new legislative session. That tradition continues to this day. Just recently, we had a group of Bourbon County in kentucky come here and with a the assistance of the delegation of senators and congressmen from kentucky, honor the senator and that legacy that started back in the early 1800s here at the Willard Hotel. Asator henry clay was known the great compromise appeared what better way to compromise after a day of legislator legislation battle than to retire to the bar at the Willard Hotel and have a mint julep . Morencer you can learn about the Willard Hotel sunday at 6 00 p. M. And 10 a car pm eastern unamerican artifact. Only on American History tv here on cspan three. Artifacteek, american takes viewers into archives, museums, and Historic Sites around the country. Next, we visit the National Constitution center in philadelphia to learn about the life and legacy of john marshall, the fourth chief justice of the United States who served on the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835