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In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army
at Saratoga. What followed was **two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat,
and a three-day siege**, at the end of which **British General John Burgoyne
surrendered his entire force**.
This was the first ever surrender of a British army. Not the first British
defeat — the first time an entire British field army laid down its arms. That
is why Saratoga is called a turning point rather than a victory: it was the
evidence that convinced France the Americans could actually win, and French
entry into the war is what made independence achievable.
"Forever changing the future of the world" is the park's phrase, and for once
it is not overstatement.
Getting there
Saratoga National Historical Park lies **between U.S. Route 4 and N.Y. Route
32, about 4 miles north of the Village of Stillwater, N.Y.**
- Roughly 40 miles north of Albany
- 14 miles south-east of Saratoga Springs
More detailed directions and downloadable maps are on the park's website.
The weather
All four seasons, with a wide range: **as low as −20°F in winter and as high
as 100°F in summer**. Check local weather reports before you go.
*Location: National Historical Park, New York. Source: U.S. National Park
Service.*
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.nps.gov
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