New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, Saratoga Springs

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, located in Saratoga Springs, preserves and showcases New York State's extensive military history. Established in 2001 within a historic armory designed by Isaac Perry in 1889, the museum is dedicated to interpreting and disseminating the history and records of New York's military forces and veterans.

The museum showcases over 10,000 military artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War. Exhibits include weapons, uniforms, artillery, and artwork, with notable Civil War items like Colonel Elmer Ellsworth's uniform and General Kearny's bugler’s bugle. It also highlights New York's renowned regiments, including the 27th Division, the 7th (Silk Stocking), the 69th (Fighting Irish), and the 369th (Harlem Hellfighters).

A standout feature of the museum is its flag collection, the largest state battle flag collection in the country, and the most extensive Civil War flag collection in the world. With over 1,700 flags, more than 60% dating to the Civil War, the collection encompasses flags from the War of 1812 through the Gulf War.

The Veterans Research Center, housed within the museum, provides an invaluable resource for military history and genealogy research. The center's archives include a 12,000-volume library, over 9,000 photographs, unit history files, maps, letters, and scrapbooks. Notable highlights include over 2,300 Civil War photographs and a comprehensive collection of Civil War-era newspaper clippings arranged by New York units. Additionally, the center maintains New York National Guard service records from the 1880s to 1965.

With its extensive exhibits, invaluable research materials, and commitment to preserving military heritage, the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center stands as a vital institution dedicated to honoring and educating the public about the state's military legacy.