Albany is the capital of New York State, sitting on the west bank of the Hudson River about 150 miles north of New York City. It is one of the oldest continuously chartered cities in the United States, founded by Dutch settlers in the early 17th century, and its history layers Dutch colonial origins, Revolutionary War significance, and 19th-century industrial prosperity.
The New York State Capitol, a massive granite building that took 32 years and five architects to complete, dominates the skyline and is worth a guided tour — the "Million Dollar Staircase" alone is remarkable. Nearby, the Empire State Plaza is an arresting (if divisive) piece of 1960s modernist architecture commissioned by Governor Nelson Rockefeller — its marble-clad towers house state offices, the New York State Museum (free), and The Egg, a performing arts centre shaped like a giant ellipse.
Albany City Hall, designed by H.H. Richardson in 1883, is one of the finest Romanesque Revival buildings in America. The Shaker Heritage Society in nearby Watervliet preserves the site of the first Shaker settlement in America. Albany Rural Cemetery holds the grave of President Chester A. Arthur among hundreds of others, surrounded by extraordinary Victorian funerary sculpture.
Getting around the Capital District — which includes nearby Schenectady and Troy — is straightforward by bus via the CDTA system, though a car is useful for outlying sites.