Great American Outdoors Act funds are being used to rehabilitate the Tour Road at Saratoga National Historical Park/NPS file

Great American Outdoors Act funds are reaching into some of the smaller corners of the National Park System, among them Saratoga National Historical Park, which is scheduled to receive about $6.6 million to rehabilitate the self-guided battlefield Tour Road.

The historical park in upstate New York captures the echo of two American Revolution battles that were fought on a pastoral slice of land 244 years ago. The Continental Army’s victory against British forces not only marked the first time a British army had surrendered, but it pivoted the American Revolutionary War in favor of the colonials and forever changed the history of the United States.

The roughly $6.6 million in GAOA funds the park is to receive will be used for extensive work on the Tour Road expected to result in increased accessibility and visible improvements to the parking areas, trailheads, walkways, seating, exhibits and viewing areas along the ten-mile-long route.  

“This project is an extraordinary opportunity to invest in our visitors and enhance their enjoyment and understanding of the Saratoga Battlefield and the events that took place here. It is a big step in preparing the park for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and interpreting the critical role that the Battles of Saratoga played in turning the tide of Revolution and changing the world,” said Saratoga Superintendent Leslie Morlock.   

The current Tour Road experience is more than 50 years old. This renovation will expand physical access and safety enhancements for more than 100,000 visitors annually and eliminate $4 million of the park’s maintenance backlog. It will also be instrumental in preparing the park for the extra attention it will receive related to the upcoming 250th anniversary commemorations of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 and of the battles in 2027.  

The parking areas and walkways will be revamped at all ten tour stops to meet universal standards for accessibility, including seating with companion seating, new improved exhibits, and audio description provided on an app for public use. Modern outdoor exhibits will replace the existing informational waysides that are well beyond their intended design life.  

The 60 new exhibits will be constructed of durable steel, aluminum, and bronze. In addition to being more cost-effective by requiring less routine maintenance, the new exhibits will include replica objects and convey updated information about the battles, the landscape, multiple perspectives, and the roles of lesser-known participants to better connect visitors with the meaning and importance of the site. The design layouts are geared for easier reading; using added color contrast, appropriate fonts and font size, tactile bronze relief maps, braille, and installation heights that are beneficial for all visitors.     

Saratoga National Historical Park preserves, protects, and interprets the sites associated with the battles, siege, and surrender of the British forces at Saratoga. The park encompasses five sites, including the Saratoga Battlefield, General Philip Schuyler’s House, Victory Woods, the Saratoga Monument, and Sword Surrender site totaling 3,579 acres. It was here in September and October 1777, during the American War for Independence, American troops battled and defeated the British invasion force. A British Army surrendered, for the first time in history, on October 17, 1777. This crucial victory secured essential foreign recognition and support and boosted the morale of the American forces making it the turning point of the American Revolution.