Congress has passed a bill to rename Saratoga National Historical Park as Saratoga National Battlefield Park, sending the measure to the president. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer announced the passage and said the new designation would better describe the Revolutionary War site in eastern New York.
The Strengthening America's Turning Point Act would change the park's official name, including references in federal laws and records. It would not establish a new park or change the land's National Park Service management. The change still requires the president's signature.
Why the name matters
The site preserves the ground where American forces won the 1777 Battles of Saratoga. Those victories helped persuade France to join the American colonies' war against Britain, giving the battles their reputation as a turning point in the Revolution.
Gillibrand said the word “battlefield” more directly recognizes the site's military history and those who fought there. Schumer said the designation adds context as the country marks its 250th anniversary this year and approaches the battles' 250th anniversary in 2027.
New York began preserving the site in 1927. Congress designated it as Saratoga National Historical Park in 1938, according to the senators' release and the National Park Service's account of the park's history.
Supporters have sought the change for years. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution requesting it in 2024. Reps. Elise Stefanik and Paul Tonko advanced the legislation in the House, which approved it last year, the senators said.
The House-passed bill text specifies that federal references to the existing park name would be treated as references to Saratoga National Battlefield Park. It does not describe new construction, new visitor fees or a change in park boundaries.
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