New York State Capitol

This building is just amazing. Loved walking through it and seeing all the designs in it. They give a free tour at certain times of the day that was very interesting and you learned a lot. Make sure you check out all the staircases in this building.

Unfortunately it’s closed on weekends but the view from outside is well worth the appreciation for the visit. The architecture is really amazing and a beautiful place for pictures. There is free parking on the street on the weekends so take advantage of walking around to view all the historical buildings on a warm day.

I LOVE NY! Not just a commercial statement anymore. Its a common thing you hear across the state and from tourists alike.
What’s not to like? Its the 4^th most populous state but its a big one, so unless you are in Times Square you probably have plenty of breathing room. While NYC is the largest city in the US, and has over 800 languages being spoken at any given time, other cities and towns in NYS are much smaller and much easier to navigate with a car.
Ive lived in NYC and in towns outside of the city and cities across the sate, so Ive had a little of everything. NYC is the home of the UN, has a huge impact on finance and fashion both, and of course has Broadway, setting the tone for theaters worldwide. Nevermind the Opera, Ballet and Museums.
The state was named for the Duke of York (yep, a Brit). We have 4 of the 10 most popular tourist attractions IN THE WORLD. 4. 3 are in the city of course, the 4^th is Niagara Falls, other end of the state. In NYC Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and Central Park are the others. While those of us who lived there took all three for granted, and likely passed through at least one of them (if not all three) weekly, they remain a significant tourist draw.
As the largest point of immigration into the US, NYC has a very diverse population. 800 languages are spoken there.
Ellis island remains a place where people go to see their family name on the wall or in the books. So many immigrants passed through there on their way across the US that over 100 million of us can trace our family roots there.
Did you know NYS had the first state park, which was at Niagara Falls. Also, the Adirondack Park (great for hiking and camping both) is the largest state park in the US, by a very large margin.
So while we have a lot of people, most are in the NYC area, and much of the rest of the state is available for hiking and more by everyone.
Those are just some of the reasons I LOVE NY.
2009

Beautiful. Every angle of the capital is photogenic. The architecture is second to none. Nostalgic scene.

A real treat for architecture buffs! This stunning and ornate landmark has been recently restored and looks spectacular inside. We wish we had gotten there in time for the guided tour, but with a copy of the self-​guided tour brochure you can explore the historic House and Senate chambers, magnificent staircases, stained glass windows, and lavish wall and ceiling treatments. Don’t miss it if you’re passing through Albany!

Hal is a keeper. Do this tour. So informative. Architecture and the history. First rate tour

… Loving the creepy faces engraved everywhere (the designer had a good sense of humor) there’s even a dog face somewhere in the walls. But be aware may seem a bit spooky and judgmental when on Psychedelics. You may find yourself questioning … yourself «Why do they always leave the lights on in this area… Is there anyone in there? It’s past 4 so no… Ahhh a face… They know»

Be prepared to be amazed. This NY State Capitol is one of the better ones in the USA. From the moment of entry we were greeted with warm & welcoming folks. Just walking around we were in ah of the great grandeur. Unfortunately my wife & I only did the self guided tour. But to our surprise we encountered no less than 5 persons (public servants) who took a moment to show & or guide us to the different treasures of the Capitol. Rightly so, everyone we spoke too was very proud of this building. My only regret is not scheduling enough time to do the free guided tour & visiting more in the area.

If u come to the Capitol, take a free 45 minute tour. Of course u can walk around the floors on ur own and go into any of the Senate and Assembly sessions yourself but it’s a pretty big building. Beautiful architecture, lots of artwork and history, an fun to sit in on the sessions.

I never thought I would enjoy visiting state capitols, but it’s become quite an enjoyable pasttime for me and my fiancée. The New York State Capitol is a beautiful building and it has quite an interesting history. Tours are free and availble quite a few times a day during the week. The architecture is really quite interesting since the building was completed by several different architects over a period of several decades. There are hidden gems all within the building and it’s very fun to learn about this building’s colorful history. I highly recommend touring this building and the surrounding area in downtown Albany.

Really very fascinating. Enjoyed the tour and while our guide was knowledgeable but next time, I’ll try the audio tour so that may have more details. We walked past the deli in the building to try the food trucks out back

Now, Albany isn’t the most exciting place, and it gets bitterly cold there, but the capitol is absolutely beautiful! The capitol is filled with amazing and diverse architecture, the pinnacle of which is the state capitol building. Absolutely gorgeous. Although its not a skyscraper, the building looks MASSIVE… so imposing, and exuding authority. A really must see for architecture lovers (as is the rest of Albany).

I’m still not entirely sure what I saw. One minute I’m on the highway, then I see signs directing me towards an underground parking lot, so knowing no better, I pay the $ 5, and because it’s the weekend I park close to the few other cars in the area. I take the elevator up and I’m in this sort of hybrid museum/​underground courthouse with art on the walls and directions towards an ice rink and 90% of the doors are locked and I have no idea where I’m going.
Eventually I make my way to street level and begin my climb up to the fountain and then I guess it’s a museum at the top of the stands or something, but I’m sitting up there looking at the few people enjoying the views of the impossibly-​large-​but-​aesthetically-​mismatched buildings and I thought to myself «this is really something,» not knowing if some or all of those words should be in italics.

The New York State Capitol is worth seeing. It is weird and wonderful. It’s design and construction was a clusterf*k that lasted for decades. It was vastly overbudget. It probably is, as our guide asserted, the most expensive state capitol every built. (Tours are free and our guide was very knowledgeable.)
Construction was overseen by three different architects, each with his own design ideas. The last two were unconcerned with what had been done prior to their arrival. Architecturally, it’s a mess, but it’s an impressive mess. You’ll find faux Gothic next to faux Persian next to – what? Nothing is Baroque, yet the overall impression is a kind of mad and massive Baroque. Unless you’re a taxpayer who helped to foot the bill — doubtless all are dead by now — you won’t know whether to laugh or cry.
To this day, it’s incomplete. When Teddy Roosevelt arrived as Governor of New York in the late 1800’s, he was having none of the ongoing cost overruns and simply declared it complete. Construction stopped. The building is functional; but your guide will point out, for example, some of the stonework décor that wasn’t carved or finished.
See also our review of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.