Albany Landmarks and Monuments

(Albany, New York - NY, USA)

There is no denying that Albany is a real haven for stylish architecture and this state capital manages to boast a number of very important landmarks, including the imposing buildings that come together to form the Empire State Plaza.

Being the state capital since 1797, it soon became apparent to the local government that it was going to be necessary to have a Capitol building for state business. The Van Schaick House was initially used before a purpose-built structure was erected, soon after the end of the Revolution. However, work on the present-day New York State Capitol didn't actually start until 1867 and lasted for more than 30 years, finally being completed in 1899 and costing a staggering US$25 million - roughly US$500 million in today's money.

Other important landmarks dotted around the capital include the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building and the Erastus Corning Tower, both of which are governmental buildings. The Eastman Tower, the Livingston Tower, the Mohawk Tower and the Stuyvesant Tower all play an integral part in the skyline, while the Albany City Hall is of particular historical significance, as is the Van Ostrande-Radliff House.

New York State Capitol

Address: State Street, Albany, New York (NY), 12230, USA
Tel: +1 518 474 2418
Albany's state house appears somewhat European in character, with its appealing mixture of Neo-Renaissance and Romanesque Revival architecture. Although it was always planned to top the structure with a dome, typical of so many other state capitols, it soon became apparent that there were serious structural problems and that the New York State Capitol would not actually be strong enough to support a giant dome. In fact, there was clear evidence of subsidence and the building was actually starting to slide down the hill, towards State Street. This movement was halted by building the huge Eastern Staircase, which successfully supported the front of the building. The capitol rightly became a National Historic Landmark at the end of the 1970s.
Open hours: guided tours, Monday to Friday - 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Admission: free

Albany City Hall

Address: 24 Eagle Street, Albany, New York (NY), 12207, USA
Tel: +1 518 434 5075
Serving as the seat of government for the state capital and housing the mayor's office, Albany City Hall stands just across from Academy Park and the Court of Appeals. This magnificent Romanesque-style landmark is easy to spot, since it has a tall brick clock tower on the southwestern corner of its historic facade, which is noticeably Venetian in character. The building was constructed at the beginning of the 1880s, shortly after the previous city hall was destroyed by fire, and features an extravagant use of granite, which upped the overall building costs to just over US$200,000.
Open hours: view from exterior only
Admission: free

New York State Education Building

Address: 1 Commerce Plaza, Albany, New York (NY), 12260, USA
Tel: +1 518 474 2714
Close to the Cathedral of All Saints and West Capitol Park is the New York State Education Building on Commerce Plaza, where it dates from the first decade of the 20th century and features a very beautiful and elegant Beaux Arts facade. The landmark is well-known for its lengthy neo-classical style colonnade comprising no less than 36 Corinthian columns fronting Washington Avenue, which interestingly makes this colonnade the longest in the USA. This is now a state office building and is currently called home by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Open hours: view from exterior only
Admission: free

University at Albany - State University of New York (SUNY)

Address: 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York (NY), 12222, USA
Tel: +1 518 442 3300
The University at Albany is an especially historic educational institution, since it was founded in 1844, when its 29 students occupied the empty Delaware and Hudson Railroad Building on Start Street, in the city center. Over the years it has grown to become one of New York State's most important universities. There are now more than 17,000 students based within its campuses (Downtown, East and Uptown), both undergraduates and postgraduates. A number of popular visitor attractions can be found within the complex and these include the Campus Center, Page Hall, the Performing Arts Center, the SEFCU Arena and the University Art Museum.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Van Ostrande-Radliff House

Address: 48 Hudson Avenue, Albany, New York (NY), 12207, USA
Also often referred to as simply 48 Hudson Avenue, the Van Ostrande-Radliff House is a very important landmark in Albany, since it is actually the most historic of all the capital's buildings. The house itself dates back to the latter years of the 1720s and is typically Dutch Colonial in character. When it was completed, it had just one main floor and a steep gabled roof, and stood close to Fort Orange, just a short distance outside of the city's original stockade boundary. Extended over the years to accommodate three floors, the house has recently made an appearance on the National Register of Historic Places.
Open hours: view from exterior only
Admission: free