Saratoga Battle Monument
The Saratoga Battle Monument is a 155-foot granite obelisk in Victory, Saratoga County, New York. It honors the turning point of the American Revolution—the surrender of British General John Burgoyne to American forces led by General Horatio Gates after the Battles of Saratoga. Today the monument is part of Saratoga National Historical Park.
The monument sits on a high bluff at Burgoyne’s last camp and overlooks the Hudson Valley. Inside, 188 steps lead up five levels to a viewing platform at the top. The first two levels contain 16 bronze bas-relief plaques showing scenes from the American Revolution. The interior also features ornamental ceramic tile, brass moldings, stained glass, and terracotta cornices.
There are four niches for life-size bronze statues of American commanders from the battle. Facing north is General Horatio Gates. Facing east is General Philip Schuyler. Facing west is Colonel Daniel Morgan. The south-facing niche is empty, symbolically reserved for Benedict Arnold, who helped the American cause but later was not honored.
The idea for a monument began in 1856 at the Schuyler House in Schuylerville. In 1859, the Saratoga Monument Association was formed, with Hamilton Fish as its first president, and New York State incorporated the group. Construction was delayed by the Civil War but resumed in 1872. In 1874 the New York State Legislature approved $50,000 for construction. The association asked the original thirteen states for funding, but only Rhode Island pledged with a conditional offer. On October 17, 1877—the 100th anniversary of Burgoyne’s surrender—the cornerstone was laid amid a big parade, music, speeches, and a reading of Fitz-Greene Halleck’s poem The Field of Grounded Arms.
The monument was designed by John C. Markham of New Jersey. The capstone was placed on November 3, 1882, and the bronze statues were completed in August 1887. The statues were created by George Bissell (Gates), Alexander Doyle (Schuyler), and William O'Donovan (Morgan). Markham designed the 16 interior bas-relief plaques. The monument was formally dedicated and turned over to the State of New York on October 18, 1912, and in 1980 the state transferred it to the National Park Service.
Funding came from private donations, the federal government, and New York State, with much labor and materials donated. By 1987 the monument had deteriorated and was closed for safety. A renovation costing about $3 million was completed, and the monument reopened on Columbus Day in 2005, funded in part by the National Park Service with help from Congressman Gerald Solomon.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:34 (CET).