Accessibility | Admission | Hours | Directions

Volunteers Needed

Background:

The mission of the museum and research center is to preserve, interpret and disseminate the story, history and records of New York State’s military forces and veterans. The collection is divided into the museum and the library/archives holdings.

Begun in 1863, the collection has not had a secure, permanent home until the Governor announced in 2001 that the historic armory in Saratoga Springs, NY would be renovated to house the collection. The building, designed by Isaac Perry and constructed in 1889, is a fine example of armory architecture that was popular in upstate New York in the late 1800’s.

The museum houses over 10,000 artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm that relate to New York State’s military forces, the state’s military history and the contributions of New York’s veterans. The artifacts include uniforms, weapons, artillery pieces, and art. A significant portion of the museum’s collection is from the Civil War. Notable artifacts from this conflict include Colonel Elmer Ellsworth’s (the Union’s first martyr) uniform, the medical kit of Jubal Early’s surgeon, and the uniform and bugle of Gustav Schurmann (General Philip Kearny’s boy bugler). Included in the museum are significant holdings relating to New York’s 27th Division in World War I and World War II and notable state military regiments such as the 7th (Silk Stocking Regiment), 69th (Fighting Irish), 71st, and 369th (Harlem Hell fighters) New York Infantry.

The museum also owns the largest collection of state battle flags in the country and the largest collection of Civil War flags in the world. Of the over 1700 flags in the collection, more than 60% are from the Civil War. The flags date from the War of 1812 through the 1991 Gulf War. The museum maintains an exhibit of its flag collection in the state capitol building in Albany where the museum collection was originally housed.

The library and archive holdings in the Veterans Research Center include a 2000 volume library of military and New York State history, over 6,000 photographs, unit history files, broadsides, scrapbooks, letters and maps. Highlights of the library and archives material include over 2300 Civil War photographs, a collection of Civil War era newspaper clippings arranged by New York units, and New York National Guard service cards and service records dating from the 1880’s to 1965.

The Veteran Research Center operates and archives the New York State Veteran Oral History Program and the Veteran Questionnaire Program. The Oral History Program actively collects interviews of New York State veterans from all eras. The largest part of this collection is of World War II veteran interviews. The Veteran Questionnaire Program, similar to the Oral History Program, solicits and preserves the written and photographic record of the state’s veterans.

Programs and Services: Reference library and archives, research assistance, education programs and lectures.

Museum Publications: Genealogy Resources in the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center; Veteran Oral History Program Self-Interview Packet; and the Library and Archives Guide.

Accessibility

The museum floor is completely accessible for people using wheelchairs. The research room is currently located in the basement which is only accessible via stairs.

Admission

There is no admission charge to visit the museum or use the research center.

Hours

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

The Research Center hours are:
Appointments are required.
Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Due to staffing concerns we can no longer accept telephone inquiries.
If you have a research question you may mail it to:
New York State Military Museum
61 Lake Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866

Please note the Museum is closed every Sunday and Monday.

The museum is closed on all New York State Holidays.

The NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center is located in Saratoga Springs, New York. Saratoga Springs is approximately 25 miles north of Albany, NY.

If you are coming from the South:
Take route 87 north from Albany.
Get off at exit 13N and proceed north on Route 9.
You will be on Route 9 for about four and one-half miles.
Turn right (east) on route 29, which is also Lake Avenue.
The Museum is in the old armory building which is 3 blocks on the left.

If you are coming from the North:
Take route 87 south.
Get off at exit 15 and proceed south on route 50.
After about one and one-half miles turn left to stay on Route 50 south, this is also Broadway and Route 9.
Go about one-quarter mile and turn left on route 29, which is also Lake Avenue.
The Museum is in the old armory building which is 3 blocks on the left.

You can call the museum at (518) 581-5100 or go to mapquest.com [link will open a new window] and enter your starting address and the address of the museum (61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) to get personalized directions.