The village was incorporated in 1892, with Dr. Trudeau as its first mayor. He created the "Trudeau Sanatorium," a network of about a dozen hotels that became known as "cure cottages." Over the years Saranac Lake had hosted many celebrated people who visited for physical and spiritual rejuvenation. These included 5 presidents, Mark Twain, Bela Bartok, Somerset Maugham, Jack Dempsey, and Al Jolson among others.
See Saranac Lake/Essex County for more information and links to village historic sites.