You’ve seen it all over Saratoga, it’s practically the unofficial symbol of the city: the Spirit of Life. The bronze, winged woman offers nourishment, water, to visitors of Congress Park. But what does she stand for?

For that answer, we'll start a mile away at Saratoga Spa Park.

On the Board of Directors for the park and a tour guide, Linda Harvey can tell you anything you want to know about the springs. In the early 1900's, gas companies had settled in Saratoga.

"They were pumping 200,000 gallons a day and not even caring about what happened to the water and it was at a time where there were no environmental laws,” said Harvey.

The gas companies were depleting the springs. That is, until 1906 when anti-pumping laws came in to effect. In 1910, the 21 remaining mineral springs became protected under the park preservation.

"It might not have happened without Spencer Trask,” said Harvey.

The New York City native made Saratoga his adopted hometown. He led the push to protect the spring waters. He died in a train accident as legislation was to protect the springs was being passed.

People come from all over to experience the waters supposed healing powers, drinking it and bathing in it. The Spirit of Life sculpture was commissioned by his wife Katrina in his honor.

"We could have possibly lost the springs that make Saratoga what it is today,” said Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director Saratoga Springs Historic Preservation Foundation. “It's what started our community was the springs, it's what brought people here and made it popular.”

Far from forgotten, the memorial dedicated to Trask was restored in 2015. Volunteers with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation spend hours and hours each week during the warmer months on upkeep.

"It's an icon of the city, it's a symbol of the preservation foundation, it means a lot to me personally because my wife died the following year in 2016 so it has personal meaning as well,” said volunteer Jim Gold.

Motivated by what the Spirit of Life means to them, volunteers say they hope passersby's discover the significance of what Spencer has left behind.

"I tend to think that we need to create places like this because there is a driving force within everybody where they want to connect, they want to be apart of something bigger than themselves and Congress Park allows them to do that,” said volunteer Ron Thompson.