Friday, January 16, 2026 |
Photo – Saratoga Museum – Courtesy Saratoga Museum
Buffalo-native Justin Horn is the new director of the Saratoga Museum.
Established in 1975, the Saratoga Museum is housed in a renovated schoolhouse built in 1909. The museum features more than 10,000 artifacts and rotating exhibits and, according to its website, holds the state’s most diverse geological collection, including minerals and gems from India to Antarctica.
Last week, the Saratoga Museum welcomed its newest director, Justin Horn. Speaking to Bigfoot99, Horn explained that he’s always been interested in history. Following his time in the Air Force, Horn said he returned to the subject and completed a master’s degree in 2020.
Horn said he realized during his master’s program that museums were the best fit for his interest in history. After earning his degree, he spent a summer at historic Fort Laramie working for the National Park Service. Afterwards, Horn said he moved on to a museum position in South Dakota before joining the Rockpile Museum in Gillette.
While working at the Rockpile Museum, Horn said he saw a listing for the museum director position in Saratoga. Seeing it as a chance to advance his career, he submitted an application and was hired.
After a week on the job, Horn said the Saratoga Museum’s biggest strength appears to be strong local involvement. Unlike the Rockpile Museum, he said Saratoga residents genuinely appreciate their hometown institution.
Bigfoot99 asked Horn where the Saratoga Museum could use improvements. The new director said he plans to broaden the variety of exhibits and make needed upgrades to the building itself.
Horn said he’s developing a new exhibit detailing the history of the Hobo Hot Springs.
In the meantime, the museum director said he’s meeting with the Saratoga‑Ryan Park Museum District’s Board of Directors to determine if the museum’s annual fundraiser, the Frozen Fore, can still occur. The golfing event is held on the frozen surface of Saratoga Lake, but warmer‑than‑average temperatures have left the lake mostly ice free. Aside from that, Horn said he hasn’t had time to plan any additional museum events at this time.
