SARANAC LAKE — Historic Saranac Lake announced the grand opening of its expanded museum campus, with two events scheduled for August. All members of Historic Saranac Lake and those who have contributed to the museum expansion project at any level will be invited to the ribbon cutting on Aug. 15. A community-wide celebration will take place the following Saturday, when the doors to the Trudeau Building will be thrown open for a free Open House.

Historic Saranac Lake purchased the former home and medical office of Dr. E. L. Trudeau in 2019 to preserve the historic building and utilize the additional space for expansion of their Saranac Laboratory Museum. More than $5 million was invested in the rehabilitation of the building, and construction was completed in 2025. The historic building will open in August with new exhibits interpreting the history of the Saranac Lake region.

The expanded museum campus consists of the completely restored Trudeau Building and HSL’s neighboring Saranac Laboratory Museum. Several years of careful exhibit designs are complete, and exhibit fabrication is underway. The entire first floor and substantial sections of the second floor galleries will be ready to open in August. The new exhibits were supported by a $250,000 Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museums and Library Services.

Exhibit design has been led by Travis Wood and Bart Hayes of the Exhibits Department, a small team of award-winning experts who are deeply involved in the exhibits field.

“The exhibit team has been terrific to work with,” Executive Director Amy Catania said. “Many people have been working very hard on this project, from our design consultants, to HSL staff, to volunteer exhibit committee members like our area experts, Caroline Welsh, Ted Comstock and Kevan Moss. We really appreciate everyone’s commitment to the project.”

HSL selected Apogee, fabricator of museum and trade show exhibits in upstate New York, to bring the new exhibits to fruition.

“Mark Taylor, the President and CEO of Apogee, demonstrated a real commitment to get the exhibits done right at a great price,” Catania said.

The firm is expanding its work in museum exhibits with its recent acquisition of Exhibits and More, based out of Syracuse. Related to the local Munn family, Mark has deep family roots in the area, and he enjoys vacationing at his camp in the Adirondacks.

Both buildings 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. The new museum provides the space to present the rich history of the Saranac Lake region, encompassed by the boundaries of the sprawling Saranac Lake school district. History of Indigenous peoples will be introduced in collaboration with David Kanietakeron Fadden, director of the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center in Onchiota.

“The overarching story of the expanded museum is the relationship of residents and visitors to the natural environment of the Saranac Lake region,” Program Coordinator Alex Krach said. “The Adirondack mountains and waterways sustained Indigenous people and attracted health seekers. Today the natural world continues to drive local economies and draw people seeking recreation. We are excited to welcome local residents, school group and visitors into the museum to find out more and to share what they know.”

The exhibits include interactive exhibit elements designed to capture the interest of children and visitors of all ages.

There is still time to support the project with a donation of any size to be invited to the Aug. 15 event. One way to get involved is to dedicate a paver on the walkway in front of the Saranac Laboratory. The deadline for paver orders is May 1. Pavers can be ordered online at historicsaranaclake.org/pavers. HSL is also offering the opportunity to dedicate a theater seat in the new film room. Eleven original seats from Saranac Lake’s old Pontiac Theatre are being refurbished for installation in the film room, along with two original Art Deco lights from the Pontiac. Each seat and light can be dedicated with a donation of $1,000. A small plaque will recognize each donor. Businesses and individuals interested in participating as sponsors in the August opening events are welcome to contact HSL to find out more.

With the museum campus opening in August, HSL is turning its focus to a final capital project to link the two buildings for all visitors with a new accessible entrance and handicap lift at the Saranac Laboratory. About $425,000 has been raised, and HSL continues to seek grants and donations to complete the project.

Board President Lisa Lauroesch underlined HSL’s excitement about the August events.

“We can’t wait to open the doors of the new museum this summer,” Lauroesch. It’s an opportunity to invite the whole community to come be a part of Historic Saranac Lake. There is something in the new museum to interest everyone. Now more than ever, this is the community’s museum.”

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. The Saranac Laboratory Museum is open year-round, Tuesday-Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.