Lincoln Bath Reopens Following Renovations
(Right) A new museum, The Saratoga Museum of Hydrotherapy, will open on a limited basis starting the weekend of Oct. 10.
Driving into Saratoga Springs, one of the first prominent buildings a visitor or resident will see is the Lincoln Baths.
Built in 1929 and opened in 1930, the current building with its white façade and Greco-Roman pillars is the second such facility at the site with the first bath house constructed in 1915 and was burnt down in 1927.
While the building may be close to 100 years old, a recently unveiled $6.9 million renovation has breathed new life into the facility. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation showed off the new renovation during a ribbon cutting on Oct. 1.
Renovations to the Lincoln Bathhouse began in March and included both exterior and interior modifications.
Exterior renovations included:
• New paths, sidewalks, crossings, curb cuts, ramps and drop off areas to improve accessibility, circulation, pedestrian safety and connections
• New landscaping, site lighting, bicycle racks, benches and orientation signage
• Expanded accessible parking lots for visitors, park employees and tenants
• New electrical system with EV chargers
• Newly separated entrances for visitors, park staff and NYS Park Police
• Improved entrance to the Children’s Museum at Saratoga
• New plantings of native trees
As part of the interior modifications, the Saratoga Spa State Park’s gift shop and park office were relocated from their current home on 19 Rosevelt Drive to the Lincoln Bathhouse and a new visitor welcome hall.
In addition, the Lincoln Bathhouse will also be home to a new museum which tells the story of how Saratoga’s mineral water was used for healing and wellness. Named The Saratoga Museum of Hydrotherapy, this museum gives visitors a look at the wellness practices employed at the spa in the 20th century.
“As a result of this $6.9 million renovation, the Lincoln is now our premier gateway to one of our system’s most visited parks,” Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Kathy Moser, said. “This multi-phase effort reflects the Park’s commitment to ensuring that everyone can experience and enjoy our state parks.”
The new museum will be open on a limited basis on Saturdays and Sundays starting on Oct. 10 and 11. The purpose of the limited opening is to allow for refinement of interpretation and operations while at the same time gathering public feedback, the office said in a statement.