It is natural to assume that the capital of the State of New York will be the same city . But it's not so . The main city of the state is the hundred-thousandth Albany; and this definition is purely administrative . Albany is firmly mated with the neighboring Schenectady and Saratoy Springs, and their joint agglomeration has long been considered something of a single whole . Albany itself is one of the oldest cities built by Europeans on the former lands of the thirteen colonies . In the whole country, only a few cities were inhabited continuously, from the moment of foundation, and Albeni is one of them . And a significant part of the population still today are riotous Irish heads .
How to get to Albany
Albany-International airport is about 10 km from the city center and takes flights from several major cities of the country: Washington, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, Atlanta. The train to Albany can be reached from New York, Chicago, Boston. But it is most convenient to go here by high-speed bus from New York (the interval of traffic - once in half an hour-hour, travel time - about 3 hours). Or by car on the direct highway: if you're lucky with the road, you can meet at 2, 5 pm
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A bit of history
Albany was founded first as a small fortified fort made of wood French and exclusively for trading purposes . In the middle of the 16th century, French entrepreneurs needed a base on the Hudson, which became the future Albany . The fort lasted only a short time, then it was washed away and only restored by the Dutch in the beginning of the 17th century . Later the territory was seized the English, who called the city by its current name . It took a little time for Albany to become a major trance the tailor's knot: by the beginning of the 19th century it was the central transshipment point of the region . At that time riverboats began to go to New York, and later to the Great American Lakes . At that time the city was one of the 10 largest in country, but later this status was lost for good .
The second round of development Albany received at E . Corning-the second, his most popular mayor who took the reins in 1941 . Until his death (then there are 42 years) Corning ruled the city; and at this time Albany, without experiencing sudden changes or impressive leaps, quietly peacefully grew . Korning was an opponent of radical changes and bold steps . On the one hand, it caused a certain stagnation in city life, and until now Albany has not called neither a highly developed nor an advanced city . On the other hand, it was Corning's policy that allowed preserving the old architecture in the historical center and leaving the city look like it was centuries ago .
Entertainment, excursions and attractions Olbeni
Albany is not that a kid who may appear in the shadow of his eminent neighbor of New York . In the center there are high-rise Manhattan type, the main street is quite busy in the daytime and in the evening . But at the same time it takes only a few steps to move away from the central highways - and you are already in a provincial town with a characteristic silence and a semi-dead atmosphere, for example, on a weekday noon . Albany - a city of green, beautiful, with a perfectly preserved building in a variety of European architectural styles since the 16th century . There are also cobbled streets and neoclassical colonial mansions, among which, without a twinge of conscience, are thrusts of glass and concrete skyscrapers .
- Take a river cruise on a steamship.
- Visit Caves of Hove , which is 45 minutes west of the city, the second most visited tourist attraction of the state (after the Niagara Falls).
- Look at the distillery that got the license after the first law in the state
Start studying the city stands from the historic square Quakenbush, where the tourist center is located. It is worth seeing the Town Hall on Eagle Street, a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, in the interior of which there are several interesting murals and carvings. It will also be interesting to look at the first church in the city (North Pearl Street), built in 1642
Imperial Estate Quarter is distinguished by several socialist real estate, reminiscent of the 70's . the last century . quarter busy architectural ensemble of this particular period, consisting of government buildings . most recognizable buildings of the city are found here: the four narrow and thin skyscraper resembling the external flash-drives, set "on end" . In the center of the structure is located more just like flying saucer but the townspeople call it The Egg - "egg" . This is an opera house, where concerts of contemporary performers and other art events are also held .
Right in front of the "egg" in Capitol Park is Capitol Albany . This should be in every state capital , but it is not necessarily looking like Washington . in particular, the Capitol, Albany was built in 1899 . specifically as a government building and now belongs to the monuments of history . supervised the construction of as many as five of the architects, and perhaps, Because of this, the Capitol was built in 32 years . This beautiful and recognizable stone building today can be called one of the main sights of the city, and tourists can visit it with an organized excursion .
The construction of the Capitol cost 25 thousand USD, making it at that time the most expensive government building in the United States.
in Albany quite old mansions, which may not look very stunning, but have a rather long history . it is, for example, the estate Knickerbocker (1780 . ), restored almost from the ruins, along which the seg- ments OD A Y lead tours with stories about the colonial past of the state . Also interesting house Prune (one of the oldest Dutch state names, arrived here in the 1660s .), built in the eclectic style of the Federal and Greek Revival . A house Crail State at the top of Hudson Valley opened a new museum of colonial history of the Netherlands . where you can get acquainted with the life of a 17th-century colonial .
Another interesting house - this Cherry Hill, built in 1787 . to Van Rensselaer family . Catherine Putman, who lived here, was known in the city of Lich In addition, an impressive collection of books, photographs, textiles and other things - more than 20 000 articles . were collected here. Another curious building, the Breck mansion, was built in the late 18th century in the traditional colonial style for General Abraham Ten Brechka . @ it offers beautiful views of the river Hudson and sailing on her barge . it is also worth looking at Schuler mansion, built in the 18th century in the Georgian style, reflecting the taste of the owner, the revolutionary general and US senator .
The main museum of Albany is the New York State Museum on the Empire State Plaza . In addition, the city has a museum of Italian culture (Central Avenue) Children's Museum of Science and Technology (Jordan Road), Fire Service Museum (Harry Howard Avenue), Irish-American Museum (Broadway), Museum of Iroquois Indians (Caverns Road) and Henry Hudson Planetarium . In the vicinity you can visit the Stillwater Museum Blockhouse (about half an hour's drive from the city) . Here are a lot of photos and other documents related to the history of Stillwater . Another interesting place near Albany is the Mabi farm to the west of the city, founded as far back as 1670 . for fur trade with Indians . Here you can arrange various exhibitions and presentations .
Book popular hotels in Albany at the best prices
| Morgan State House from 8 310 rub Albany 393 State Street | ||
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| Holiday Inn Express Albany Downtown from 5 540 rubles Albany 300 Broadway | Motel 6 Albany from 2 832 rubles Albany 100 Watervliet Avenue | Red Carpet Inn Albany from 3 386 rubles Albany 500 Northern Boulevard |
Events Olbeni
Annually in the first half of May in the city there is a festival of tulips, which recalls the Dutch past Albany. Visiting it is free and open to the public. The culmination of the festival is the crowning of the Queen of Tulips, as well as the awarding of the "Mother of the Year" award.
Other activities in Albany also last for the whole year . First of all, this January global festival of haute cuisine and wine . It lasts three days, and at this time a lot of restaurants and cafes are tasting and master classes . In June in Albany, the Lark Street Arts Festival is held, which is considered the best art event of the whole region . In its framework, concerts of contemporary performers and exhibitions, as well as installation, money dances, theater performances and t . . In September there are a jazz festival and art fair, as well as the second part of Lark-fest . Finally, in November, guests can admire various vivid examples of urban illumination at the festival "Lights in the Park" (Park Washington) .