Saratoga Battlefield

From the Times Union:

"58% increase in visitors to Saratoga Battlefield"

The hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" may have helped spark a 58 percent increase in visitors to the Saratoga National Historical Park last year, park officials said. In 2016, 102,808 people visited the battlefield, the first time since 2007 that the 100,000 attendance mark was cracked. The park had 65,010 visitors in 2015 "Whether people came to visit for the first time, for the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, or because of our unique link to the hit musical 'Hamilton,' I hope every visitor found their own personal connection with the significance of this battlefield for American independence," Battlefield Superintendent Amy Bracewell said. For the first two months of 2017, the park is seeing about the same level of visitors with 4,866 this year compared to 4,832 for the same period last year. The battlefield is considered to be the site of the turning point of the American Revolution. It's where an American Army defeated a British Army in the two battles fought on Sept. 19 and Oct. 9, 1777, The hip-hop musical that opened in 2014 has spurred interest in Alexander Hamilton, an Revolutionary War officer and the new nation's first secretary of the treasury. At the Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the home he designed and lived in New York City, attendance soared 141 percent to 85,348 in 2016 from 35,446 in 2015.  Over the past decade the Saratoga National Historical Park averaged 75,231 in annual attendance. The chart has the park's annual number of visitors. The National Park Service reported attendance at all parks climbed 23.7 million, about 7 percent to 331 million in 2016 — the third consecutive year visitation increased. The higher numbers occurred during the park service's centennial year. The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Kinderhook also had more visitors as its attendance climbed 19.2 percent to 21,100 in 2016, up from 18,547 in 2015. The Saratoga park reported higher numbers at all of its events in 2016. "Seeing so many people come to experience their national park is inspiring," Bracewell said. The events at the battlefield included ranger programs, the annual July 4th naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens, hiking, cycling, music and children's programs.

^ I loved going to the Saratoga Battlefield. It's been several years since my last visit, but hope to go back again. ^

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/58-increase-in-visitors-to-Saratoga-Battlefield-11001347.php