The Trudeau Building

Museum Expansion

Historic Saranac Lake is restoring the former home and medical office of Dr. E. L. Trudeau to open an expanded museum campus that explores the history of the Saranac Lake region and Trudeau’s pioneering work in tuberculosis treatment and scientific research.

The Three Pillars Campaign

The Three Pillars Campaign was launched in the spring of 2024 to raise $3 million for the new museum exhibits, handicap accessibility at the Saranac Laboratory, and the endowment fund. The Three Pillars Campaign builds on the success of the first phase of the campaign, which raised $5.5 Million to support the acquisition of the building, design, planning, construction, and planning for museum exhibits. 

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Three Pillars Campaign

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About the Museum Expansion

News Coverage

PROGRESS SUMMARY TIMELINE (MOST RECENT EVENTS LISTED FIRST)

  • September 2024: Construction at the Trudeau Building is 75% complete and on track to be finished in 2024. Historic Saranac Lake has been awarded a prestigious $250,000 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to support the new exhibits. The Three Pillars Campaign has raised over $1 million to support the new exhibits, handicap accessibility at the Saranac Laboratory, and the endowment fund.
  • April 2024:  We launched the Three Pillars campaign in the spring of 2024 to raise an additional $3 million to fabricate and install the museum exhibits, build a handicap lift at the Saranac Laboratory, and grow the endowment. We are in the early stages of the campaign, speaking with lead donors. Stay tuned to our website for a new fundraising thermometer and information about how to participate soon!
  • April 2024:  We launched the Three Pillars campaign in the spring of 2024 to raise an additional $3 million to fabricate and install the museum exhibits, build a handicap lift at the Saranac Laboratory, and grow the endowment. We are in the early stages of the campaign, speaking with lead donors. Stay tuned to our website for a new fundraising thermometer and information about how to participate soon! 
  • February 2024: Construction is in full swing. Construction is over 30% complete, and we are on track to complete the rehabilitation of the building in late fall of this year.
  • December 2023: We have been awarded an Adirondack Architectural Heritage Adirondack Rural Revitalization Program grant of $22,500 for the portico. We also were awarded a $10,000 Action Grant from Humanities NY to support consultation with Dave Fadden of the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center on Indigenous Exhibits in the new museum. A $115,000 grant from the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will support major roof repairs to the laboratory roof in 2024.
  • ​August 1, 2023: We broke ground for construction! As of November, 2023, construction is 20% complete, including masonry repairs, removals, some site work, and preliminary work to install the elevator. Activity will ramp up on the interior through the winter. Stay tuned to this page and our social media channels for progress updates!
  • Summer, 2023: We unveiled our new introductory film for the new museum, supported by a Rescue Act Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Schematic design of museum exhibits is now complete. See the Schematic Design booklet.
  • July 2023: We have a new logo! ​​As we grow to become a two-building museum campus, our logo needed an update! The new logo, designed by Adam Rozum Design, exists in a variety of complementary versions. Our thanks to Franklin County Destination Development & Marketing Program for supporting this project.
  • Spring 2023: Construction Advances — In the spring of 2023, we signed a pre-construction contract with Bishop Beaudry Construction. Construction got underway with window restoration by Richardson Windows. The master contract will be signed in July.
  • Summer 2022: Film Production — We are working with filmmaker Jordan Craig to produce a new short introductory film that will introduce visitors to the broader scope of the new museum. 
  • Summer 2019 to 2022: Museum Planning — Museum Planning consultant Kate Cravens contracted with HSL in the summer of 2019 to develop an overarching interpretive plan for both museum buildings. In 2020, We contracted with exhibit consultant, Bob Davidson of Exhibits and More to create an Exhibit and Lighting plan. In August 2023, we learned that we have been successful with an IMLS Inspire! Grant of $50,000 to support the next phase of museum planning. A Humanities NY Vision Grant will support consultation with Humanities Scholars. This next phase of exhibit planning began in the fall of 2022. The exhibit design team consists of Exhibit Developer Kate Cravens, Exhibit Designer Travis Wood, and Graphic Designer Charlotte Ricker.  
  • June 2022: Hazardous Materials Abatement — The abatement of hazardous materials at the Trudeau Building was completed in June 2022. 
  • Spring 2022 to present: Tax Credits — HSL secured an agreement with an investor in the project’s historic preservation tax credits. We contracted with consultants Wishneff and Associates to prepare the legal and accounting work. Part two of the tax credit application was submitted to National Park Service in July 2022.
  • March 2020 to present: Architectural Design — Preliminary schematic design was completed in March of 2020. We went out to bid in the spring of 2021 for phase one construction, but we received only one bidder. Thanks to successful fundraising, we are planning to bid the entire construction project all at once in early 2023. As of August 2023
  • January 2019: Survey and Site Plan — Surveys were completed of both museum properties. HSL’s site plan was approved by the Village Development Board in January, 2019. A revised site plan was approved in spring of 2021.
  • Summer 2019: Environmental Review — A Phase One Environmental Assessment was conducted. Asbestos remediation was performed in the basement crawl space in order to proceed safely with architectural design. 
  • April 2019: Acquisition — Historic Saranac Lake purchased the Trudeau Building from Medical Associates.