Casino-Congress Park-Circular Street Historic District
Also known as: See Also: Canfield Casino and Congress Park
Why it's listed
Congress Park and its surroundings in Saratoga Springs form a district of about 43 acres, centered on the Canfield Casino, the landscaped park around it, and ten nineteenth-century buildings along Circular Street. The park holds paths, lawns, Italian gardens, fountains and Grecian spring pavilions, including the Spirit of Life fountain. The brick Casino was built in 1867 to 1869, with a large dining room and kitchen added in 1903 to designs by Clarence Luce. John Morrissey established its reputation as a gambling house, and Richard Canfield later ran it, drawing wealthy families and entertainers. Congress Spring, developed by Dr. John Clarke, produced bottled water sold worldwide. Clarke also laid out Circular Street and built the Greek Revival house at number 46. The street's houses, mostly from the 1870s, show a lively mix of architectural treatments. Together these sites record Saratoga Springs' fame as a health resort and gambling center.
Significance in brief: The district joins the two sites behind Saratoga Springs' international fame as a health spa and gambling center: Congress Spring and the Casino. The Casino is tied to gambler John Morrissey and Richard Canfield and to the social history of the era. Circular Street's 1870s houses show the variety of architecture from the city's heyday and relate visually and historically to the park.
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 72000910, listed June 19, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Broadway, Spring, and Circular Sts., Saratoga Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | June 19, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000910 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Casino built by John Morrissey (1866); dining hall by Clarence Luce (1903); #20 Circular Street by Nichols and Halcott; #24 by Stevens and Vaughn |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (#46 Circular Street); varied 19th-century styles including Italianate-type brick Casino with pediments and bracketed cornice |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 27, 1987 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Casino owned by the city, with its first two floors being restored and the third floor used as a museum; Circular Street buildings are in use as residences, a convent, a clinic and Skidmore College housing. |
| Acreage | 33 |
| Within district | Canfield Casino and Congress Park |
| 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 72000910.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5032309
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.