Albany Things to Do

We were surprised an impressed with all that we saw in the New York State Museum. We enjoyed the birds, animals, minerals, plants & the people upstate. Rooms were filled with NYC memorabilia from the South Street Seaport, Black Harlem, subway cars, Ellis Island and recent ground zero. Photographs and memorabilia were well displayed; a lot being hands on & interactive. The 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson was well displayed also.

Every Thursday evening at 5pm during the summer (June-August), make your way downtown to the Albany Riverfront Park for a lovely outdoor free concert right on along the river!

This night has become HUGELY popular in recent years, and the place gets PACKED, so arrive as close to 5pm as you possibly can. Vendors sell all the good treats of summer: ice cream, hot dogs, beer, lemonade, BBQ.... many locals use the event to catch up with their friends, so don't feel bad about chatting through the concert, it's very informal. But the music is always great, and I love to listen! Each week is an entirely new type of music, from classic rock to disco to Irish to acoustic guitar...

Cherry on top is the beautiful river setting and the park's easy access. If you're not sure where to go, just park anywhere downtown and follow the crowds of people!

You simply can't miss one of the most beautiful and simply fun festivals in the whole state!

Albany celebrates its Dutch Heritage with the Tulip Fest in May, a three day event. The beauty of thousands of brightly colored tulips (my favorite flower) thickly covering Washington Park is enough of a draw for me, but there are plenty of events at this festival to attract more than just tulip-lovers.

There are multiple stages with musical performances, activities for kids, lots of food and local art, and of course, the crowning of the Tulip Queen and the royal court's subsequent luncheon and ball.

Simply too gorgeous for words. If you miss the Fest, at least get yourself to the park sometime before June to catch the tulips in their prime!

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Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza commissioned his friend Wallace K. Harrison (see Rockefeller Center) to be principal architect of the Plaza. The Empire State Plaze is one of the most fantastic capital centers in the country. The Plaza encompasses 98 acres of land, and provides jobs to 11,000 people in 10 buildings. Construction of the Plaza began in 1965 and was completed in 1978. Thousands of tourists visit the Plaza every year. It also hosts the New York State Museum, festivals, concerts, ice skating during the cold weather, and many, many other events.

Tours of the Plaza are conducted Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m and are free of charge. They last about one hour. Tours begin at the Plaza Visitor Center in the North Concourse.

Resembling a church, Albany's City Hall is one of city's oldest buildings. It was constructed from 1881 to 1883 by architect Henry Hobson Richardson, one of the architects who created the state capitol building. The building is made of Rhode Island granite and features a 200-foot bell tower.

In front of City Hall is the statue of General Philip Schuyler, Commander of the Northern Department of the Continental Army in the early days of the American Revolution.

The Schuyler Mansion is one of the homes built by Revolutionary War general Phillip Schuyler. Right now, the staff is finishing up a large restoration project, and most of the interior of the Mansion has been restored to it's original Georgian decor. It is open for public group tours in the summer, and gives group tours by appointment from November to March. There are also frequently lectures and living history programs on the week-ends in spring, summer, and early fall.

We passed through security and took an elevator to the Corning Tower Observation Deck located on the 42nd floor; the tallest building in New York State outside of New York City. The building dominates the Albany skyline with its glass, marble and angular forms.

We had good views of Albany, the Plaza, and surrounding areas. Also visible are the Hudson River Valley, the Port of Albany, large portions of the city and its historic buildings, the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

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The NYS Capital looked quite majestic & has served as the seat of government since the 1880s. The building is a marvel of late 19th century architectural grandeur. Under the direction of five architects, the Capitol was built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 25 years. When Governor Theodore Roosevelt declared the Capital completed. Its is the most expensive state capital with a cost exceeding twenty-five million dollars.

Paul, our tour guide whisked us through the Senate chambers, flag room, assembly chambers & war room for almost an hour. A very notable architectural feature is the "Million Dollar Staircase" containing ornate faces and animals.