Famed for its sparkling waters, Saratoga Springs became a spa town in the early 1800s. The land was considered sacred by the Iroquois and Mohawk tribes. So did the British, but the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 changed that. With the eventual money pouring in from spa tourism, a racetrack was built during the Civil War. The city prospered as a gambling mecca, but that ebbed after WWII. Yet, the racetrack is still operational and is quite a popular destination in summer. The downtown is thriving with historic architecture, unique shops. Skidmore college, a fine liberal arts school, is located minutes from downtown. The iron covers in Saratoga Springs are rather banal, so this one had to be spruced up with an overt nod to its main source of income.