Lavish Canfield Casino in Congress Park [1] was built by John Morrissey in 1870 as an adjunct to his new racetrack. One writer of the day described the place as having “gorgeously furnished toilet rooms, faro parlors, and drawing rooms.”
In 1894, Richard Canfield purchased the building and embellished it with more ostentatious touches, including stained-glass windows. Fabulous sums were won and lost in the casino’s gaming rooms, and many “Monte Carlo suicides” were said to have been committed. Before the casino was shut down in 1907, Canfield purportedly netted the then-enormous profit of $2.5 million.
Today, the casino houses the Museum of the Historical Society of Saratoga Springs (1 E. Congress St., Congress Park, 518/584-6920, www.saratogahistory.org [2], 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Sat. and 1–4 p.m. Sun. June–Sept., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wed.–Sat. and 1–4 p.m. Sun. Oct.–May, adults $5, seniors $4, students $3, children under 12 free).
Downstairs temporary exhibits focus on the history and culture of Saratoga. Upstairs are period rooms and an oddball collection of artifacts including Egyptian spears, bullets from the Battles of Saratoga, and old gaming tables.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-state/the-adirondacks/saratoga-springs/sights/congress-park
[2] http://www.saratogahistory.org