Albany is the capital of New York and the county seat of Albany County. It
is a gleaming bubble wrap of various architectural styles that span past
five centuries. It saw the first regional European settlement in 1614 when
Dutch explorers landed here. To commemorate that historic event and its
Dutch heritage, the city celebrates the Tulip Festival in Washington Park.
This event also marks the advent of spring season and is characterized by
the blooming of thousands of tulips bloom in the city. Those interested in
music and fireworks can look forward to the Price Chopper Fabulous Fourth
and Fireworks Festival on July 4 to celebrate the US Independence Day. This
event entails a heavy dose of musical performances and the region's largest
fireworks display.
Things to do in Albany
New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol is the seat of government of New York State, and
is in Albany. It is a part of the Empire State Plaza complex in Capitol
Park. The capitol houses the New York State Legislature and was built at a
cost of USD 25 million in 1899, thus making it the most expensive
government building of its time.
New York State Museum
Founded in 1836, the New York State Museum stands facing the New York State
Capitol in Albany. It is home to a top-class collection of artworks and
artefacts related to New York’s culture and history. Also, of note here are
several geological samples, palaeontology specimens and historic materials.
Albany Institute of History & Art
The Albany Institute of History & Art is a museum in Albany that is
dedicated to collect and preserve local art, history, and culture. It
features over 20000 objects in its permanent collections, a number that
includes 1600 paintings, 1100 drawings, 4000 prints, 600 sculptures, 500
pieces of furniture, 1200 ceramics, and 4000 pieces of clothing and
accessories. The library here features 140000 printed volumes and 85,000
photographs as well.