Gideon Putnam Burying Ground
Why it's listed
This one-acre burying ground on South Franklin Street in Saratoga Springs was set aside in 1810 by Gideon Putnam on his plat plan for the village. Putnam became its first interment in 1812, and the last recorded burial took place in 1871. About 161 burials remain identified among marble, limestone and granite markers carved with urns, weeping willows, draped swags and ivy borders. A high fieldstone wall with an iron gate encloses the Putnam family plot, where a monument of dual pedestals and a center obelisk commemorates Putnam and his wife, Doana. The ground was used sporadically, passed to the village government in 1835, and declined as the resort town grew around it, with a 1922 survey counting only 89 inscribed markers. Local efforts since the 1980s reset stones, cleared brush and installed fencing, and the family plot wall was restored in 2002. It was listed for its link to the town's settlement and for its funerary art.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, substantially intact non-sectarian community graveyard tied to the settlement and early development of Saratoga Springs (Criterion A). Its grave markers show the range of funerary motifs and materials used in the early period (Criterion C). It is also the only surviving feature in the city associated with founder Gideon Putnam.
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 03001279, listed December 12, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Franklin St., Saratoga Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | December 12, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001279 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1810-1871 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored through local preservation efforts since the 1980s; the Putnam family plot wall was restored in 2002, and the site is maintained as a small city historical park. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 43.07840, -73.79111 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 03001279.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5559650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.