Albany, NY Tourist Attractions
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The state capital, Albany lies 150 mi. north of New York in the valley of the Hudson River. It was given a great boost as an industrial and commercial center by the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. There is a fine view of the town and the Hudson River from the Corning Tower of the modern Empire State Plaza. Albany has many fine old 18th and 19th c. buildings that have been carefully restored in recent years. The Albany Institute of History and Art has one of the oldest collections in the United States (including pictures of the 19th c. Hudson River school).
1848 Shaker Meeting House
The Shaker Heritage Society in Albany is the site of the first Shaker settlement. Furniture, tools and crafts are on display in the 1848 Shaker Meeting House. Sect founder, Mother Ann Lee is buried on the site.The grounds also include other Shaker buildings, the barnyard with animals, an herb garden and trails around the Ann Lee Pond Nature Preserve.
Albany Institute of History and Art
The Albany Institute of History & Art features exhibits highlighting the art, culture and history of Albany. These permanent and changing exhibits include Hudson River School landscapes, Dutch limner portraits, Albany silver, 18th and 19th century furniture, decorative arts and an Egyptian collection. It is also home to the McKinney Library.
Historic Cherry Hill
Historic Cherry Hill was once the site of a Colonial Farm that contains furniture, silver, china, glass and clothing from five generations. The Georgian-style house was built in 1787 and the majority of the contents of the house where there when Emily Rankin died in 1963.
St Peter's Episcopal Church
Stained glass windows and floor mosaics are two features of St Peter's Episcopal Church in Albany, an 1859 French Gothic church. A replica of Queen Anne silver presented in 1712 and a British General's grave beneath the vestibule are also part of the church history.
Cathedral of All Saints
The Cathedral of All Saints in Albany is an 1888 Gothic Revival Episcopal church. Notable features include stained glass, mosaics, stone carvings, and 17th century choir stalls carved in Belgium.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany is a Neo-Gothic Revival church that was built in 1852. Highlights of the Cathedral include a carved pulpit, stained glass, as well as historic and artistic objects.
First Church in Albany
First Church began in 1642, it's pulpit and weathervane date from 1656, and architect Philip Hooker designed it. Theodore Roosevelt was a member of First Church during his time as Governor of New York State.
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Philip Schuyler, a descendant of Albany's earliest settlers, chose this 80-acre parcel of farmland for his home. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold were among Schuyler's visitors.
Court of Appeals Building
This building dates from 1842. It is a Greek Revival structure that houses New York's highest court.
Dutch Apple River Cruises
Narrated cruises of the Hudson River are offered through Dutch Apple Cruises. Lunch, dinner and hors d'oeuvre cruises are also available.
Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza
This 96 acre Plaza houses a government center, performing arts center, the New York State Museum and a collection of American modern art.
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum features permanent and changing exhibits that include the natural, cultural and human history of New York State. The Anthropological collections represent over 11,000 years of human history; the Biological Collections include two and a half million specimens such as mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, and mosses; and the Geological Collections include 1,500,000 specimens of rocks, minerals, and fossils.
New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol was built in the late 1800s. Carvings on the Million Dollar Staircase depict famous people in American history.
