The Sand Lake Historical Society is a local history society formed in 1974 in anticipation of the Bicentennial Year, 1976. It was granted an absolute charter by the New York State Board of Regents in 1979. The mission of the Sand Lake Historical Society is to educate and promote preservation and conservation of the history and culture of the Town of Sand Lake and the surrounding area.

The Sand Lake Historical Society's course of action is to be involved in the community, thereby promoting the appreciation of the area's unique place in Rensselaer County and New York State history. Educational community projects that the Society has sponsored include:

Memorial Awards given annually to two outstanding graduates of Averill Park High School excelling in history
Historic house plaques
Historical markers
Local historic house tours
Assistance in house dating and genealogical studies
Promotion of publications relative to the Town of Sand Lake and surrounding areas
Reference library (housed at the Sand Lake Town Library).
In order to continue these informative and historically relevant projects, the Sand Lake Historical Society holds fundraising events. They include: