Canfield Casino and Congress Park
Also known as: See Also:Casino-Congress Park-Circular Street Historic Distr
Why it's listed
Congress Park is a 17-acre public park in Saratoga Springs, New York, built around the Congress Spring and the Canfield Casino. The Casino is a pink-orange brick Renaissance Revival building, with its main block dating to 1870, an east wing added in 1871, and a large dining room and kitchen added in 1902-03. The park holds Grecian spring pavilions, fountains, an Italian garden, Thorvaldsen vases and the Spirit of Life statue by Daniel Chester French. Its springs were developed by Gideon Putnam and Dr. John Clarke, whose bottled water became famous worldwide. Gambling operators John Morrissey and Richard Canfield later made the Casino a gathering place for wealthy and prominent visitors. The city bought the properties between 1911 and 1913 and has owned them since. Because Saratoga's grand 19th-century hotels have been demolished, the park and Casino are the clearest remaining evidence of the city's era as a national health and gambling resort. Today the Casino houses a museum and event spaces.
Significance in brief: The Congress Spring and the Canfield Casino, both in the park, were the two sites behind Saratoga Springs' international fame as a health spa and gambling center. They are tied to Gideon Putnam, Dr. John Clarke, John Morrissey and Richard Canfield. With the great 19th-century hotels gone, they are the best surviving reminders of the city's peak as a national resort.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87000904, listed February 27, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Spring and Circular Sts., Park Pl., and Broadway, Saratoga Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | February 27, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000904 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1820s-1911 |
| Architect / builder | Various; original Casino architect unknown; dining hall designed by Clarence Luce |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (Casino) |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 27, 1987 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Casino well maintained with high historic integrity; city-owned and used as a museum, gallery, and event space; park managed under a 1977 master plan. |
| Within district | Casino-Congress Park-Circular Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.07756, -73.78432 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87000904.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.