Members of Historic Saranac Lake (HSL) and contributors to the museum’s recent expansion project were at a ribbon cutting on August 15 at the newly refurbished the Trudeau Building.
Honorary Chair of the campaign, Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau was the guest of honor. Trudeau’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all practiced medicine in the new museum building at 118 Main Street in Saranac Lake.
Numerous local leaders and project sponsors attended the ceremony, which was followed by self-guided tours of the exhibits and refreshments in the John Black Room of the Saranac Laboratory Museum.
A number of major state grants supported the museum expansion project. New York State Homes and Community Renewal granted a total of $825,000 through New York Main Street and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) supported the building restoration with a FY2023 Capital Project Fund grant. NYSCA also has provided longtime general operating support for Historic Saranac Lake’s museum programs.
A Community Open House will take place on Saturday, August 22, with free admission for all community members from 10 am to 5 pm. Complimentary ice cream will be served from noon until 2 pm, while supplies last.
After the August 22 Community Open House, the expanded museum campus will be open to the public with regular hours: Tuesday—Saturday from 10am to 5pm, year-round. Visitors will enter the campus through the front door of the red Trudeau Building on the corner of Church and Main streets.
After exploring the Trudeau Building, visitors can make their way over to the Saranac Laboratory to learn about Saranac Lake’s science history.
Going forward, the admission cost to see exhibits in both buildings will be $12 per person and $10 for students and seniors. Children under eight are free of charge.
“We have set the ticket price at a rate that we feel is very reasonable given the comprehensive and interactive exhibits offered,” said Executive Director Amy Catania. “It is extremely important to us that all community members feel welcome, and we are planning more free community days in the future.”
Members of Historic Saranac Lake are entitled to free admission to the museum and other benefits.
A key feature of the restored Trudeau Building is the new research room and collections storage. Archivist/Curator Chessie Monks-Kelly explained, “We are thrilled to make the collections available to the public in this beautiful space, made possible by support from the Pecora family in memory of Dr. David V. Pecora.” The public is welcome to make an appointment to explore resources in the research room during regular museum hours.
Exhibits exploring the history of the Saranac Lake region are spread through eight rooms on both floors of the building. “We are really excited about new, interactive, child-friendly exhibits,” stated Program Manager Alex Krach.
Both the Trudeau Building and the laboratory are intimately connected to Saranac Lake’s unique history as a center for tuberculosis research and patient care, but the story of Saranac Lake extends beyond the borders of the village and stories of tuberculosis.
Visitors can explore the rich history of the Saranac Lake region, encompassed by the boundaries of the Saranac Lake school district. On the first floor, visitors can learn about hunting, logging, guiding, great camps, grand hotels, the railroad, and the Adirondack Park.
History of Indigenous peoples is expected to be introduced in collaboration with David Kanietakeron Fadden, director of the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center in Onchiota.
Founded in 1980, Historic Saranac Lake is a not-for-profit architectural preservation organization that preserves and presents area history and architecture to build a stronger community.
Photo of Historic Saranac Lake staff with Chessie Monks-Kelly, Amy Catania and Alex Krach cutting the ribbon for the new museum building provided.
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