Albany NY: An Incomplete History

Dan you should read O Albany! by William Kennedy if you haven't already. I think you will appreciate it for it's detail regarding each of our city's great neighbourhoods.

I’ve lived here my entire life, and still watched this video in full.

So, for anybody interested in actual history, the path of I-90 from Albany to Buffalo is built on an Iriquois footpath that was the pre-European equivalent of a modern highway. I-87 follows another footpath that linked New Jersey (a hugely native-populated area) to the Adirondack region. These were used for commerce, and that commerce is why Henry Hudson decided this was a good spot! The largest flint mine in the world (used for tools pre-European settlement) was in Coxsackie, about 20 miles south of Albany. The last battle between the Mohawks and the Mohicans was fought on Rodgers Island, between Catskill and Hudson. The Mohawks wanted to exterminate the Mohicans and take over control of commerce on the upper Hudson after Europeans settled in Albany and began trading with the Natives. There is a WORLD of difference between the cultures of the different tribes, and that was lost on the Dutch, while the French, who settled in the Adirondacks, studied them more closely.

Who ever didn't do his homework. Saratoga Springs have a very famous battle in the Revolutional War that change the history for the USA.

The Hudson River used to be badly polluted - that was its claim to infamy. All kinds of industrial wastes used to be dumped directly into it. But, since the mid-70’s it has been cleaned up by leaps and bounds. It has been a great environmental clean-up story. You can fact-check it, but I don’t think is accurate at all to say it’s “heavily polluted” anymore. Just FYI. Great vid, though! 👍

Saratoga Springs has that town feeling, but is indeed a city. It was chartered in 1913 Saratoga Springs splits in two districts: inner district and outer district. Just like Rome.

Rensselaerswyck (note Rensselaer county:) Beverwyck, originally a Dutch settlement, became Albany after it was surrendered to Britain. A history course I created was a specific study of NYS (it was fascinating to learn about my state). I focused on Dutch discovery and settlement of the state. Much of it was lost to the British early on, as you know. I am so happy to be able to see your informative video about Albany NY. It is a beautiful city. Its architecture is beyond magnificent, in some cases. The Dutch got along with the locals much better than the British did. Saratoga-jazz & blues :-). "Clinton's Big Ditch," the Erie Canal was a source of much teasing for Clinton, but he had vision. You said it! "Troy is a very cool city" - thank you! :-) I agree. Have you ever toured the NYS Capital? It's AMAZING! I mean, the stonework, the floors, the artwork, the history, everything! It's like being in a gorgeous European museum! The Plaza is also absolutely beautiful! And there are a lot of nice little spots "tucked away" near the area. Walking along the outside of the State Education Building gives you the feeling of...I'm not sure what, but it's grandiose and rich and stately (and also beautiful on the inside as well). SO MUCH spectacular architecture in this city! And Washington Park is nice. They (use to-not sure if they still do) have plays at their outdoor theatre. LOL-love the reference to 787 (transportation engineer vs urban development). Though it cannot be denied that its complexity is inspiring. Their Walmart even has an escalator for your shopping carts! Is that insane or what? I thought it was ingenious. Also, Albany has the Statton VA Medical Center (opposite Albany Med on Holland Avenue). Saratoga, where the rich people live (not totally true). They have the race track, SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center), and lots of great restaurants and stuff. You can take Rt. 9 N from Troy/Latham to get to Clifton Park and Saratoga. It's a nice drive and much easier on the nerves than taking the Northway (87N) or the thruway. The scenery is nice too. Clifton Park-notorious? Sorry, had to laugh since it actually 'was' notorious a few years back with that NXIVM cult. Too bad since Clifton Park has been known as more of the creme of the crop type of spot. Schenectady "used" to be greatly known because of GE (General Electric) which employed people from various places around the state. It used to be a really big deal if you were lucky enough to get your foot in the door to work there. Now, they have a casino (not a great claim to fame). But, they have a decent farmer's market, some nice parks, Union College (a very nice campus & great school to get into-I prefer Clarkson but...). Schenectady also has some beautiful architecture and their downtown had been making a nice comeback (up till Covid), and they have Proctor's Theater (shows, live entertainment, Melodies of Christmas, movies, spelling bee's, all sorts of great stuff!). Again, another great video! What got you started in this? I think it's a very nice idea. You might enjoy watching Chromoscope Pictures "Takeout Table" videos. I'll put in a link for their first one (all Takeout Table videos can be found on Facebook). You can find their other work just by looking up their website. They do some pretty amazing stuff that I think you will enjoy, appreciate. These guys are too cool - fun videos. https://chromoscope.pictures/chromoscopes-new-series-takeout-table/

Quite impressive and full tour guide. Thank you sir!

The building @ 248 State St used to be located were the Alfred Smith building is now. They moved it across the street on rails with horses pulling while the building was still occupied. They reconnected services everyday at the end of the work day.

Good overview! Lots of beautiful architecture and nature to be experienced in Albany. As for having the largest Walmart, there used to be a Sam's Club wholesale club where the lower floor currently is back in the early 2000's. Walmart owns Sam's Club and when they closed that Sam's club I guess they decided to expand the regular Walmart and take over that lower level since they owned it already. I remember when the Walmart Supercenter opened and we went to see the escalator which had a side escalator for your cart to accompany you between floors. I think that was the first place in the area to have one of those. Next to UAlbany also had one of the first modern roundabouts in the area, and definitely one of the first double lane roundabouts in the US, then not only is there 1 but 2 roundabouts chained together in that location now.

We need an upstate governor.

My whole perception on life... just wow

Famous UAlbany include: -Harvey Milk (first openly gay elected politician in US) -Gregory Maguire (author of Wicked) -Awkwafina (female rapper) -The Fat Jew (comedian/journalist)

Extremely informative

I don't know how anyone thinks the Empire State Plaza is ugly. It is one thing to question the merits of its original construction as it displaced some of Albany's historic Center Square neighborhood; but as an Engineer, I think the ESP is undeniably an amazing achievement. It has a timeless, simple, geometric architectural design which incorporates use of the plaza's relatively high elevation to give the appearance that the 4 agency buildings and Corning Tower are taller than they actually are (and they are clearly visible throughout the lower half of the City and from almost anywhere across the Hudson in Rensselaer). These five buildings, in conjunction with the Egg, State Capitol, and Museum provide the visual centerpiece for Albany that a State Capitol City deserves. Not to mention that it serves a great number of functions for the community such as hosting free concerts in the summer, ice-skating in the winter, and year-round theatre productions at the Egg.

9:24 that’s a beautiful government compound. I used to see it from the home I lived in on Delaware Avenue btw, California doesn’t have anything like it and I doubt any other state does. PS: Mayor Corning wasn’t corrupt. He was part of a political machine. It empowered an immigrant populace and lower socio economic people. Believe me, life in Albany under those times was a lot better than today.

Dude, read William Kennedy's Albany trilogy- Legs, Billy Phelan's Greatest Game and Ironweed.

Empire State Plaza started in 1962 when it was known as the South Mall section to the Capital. Took nearly 14 years to complete afterwards tearing up all the residential churches Catholic schools and fighting residents through element domain.

You need read your history. First Albany is the beginning of Erie canal. It ran in the land what is now covered by Rt 787. The Capital district is Troy, Schnectady and Albany. Troy made it's money via shipping as was a port in which the Hudson did not freeze in the winter. Albany was founded by Dutch 1609 by Henry Hudson, which was called Berwyck then changed to Fort Orange. It was active Fort until the English took over named after the Duke of Albany. Albany was noted as a major Port of shipping of goods, which is still is used today. In Albany, trains were built there in a major foundry. Albany was a major transportation hub both ship and train, because of it's central location. A huge Meat packing plant were located there due to the axis of shipping to the West to Buffallo , North to Canada, East to Boston, and South to New York City.

The empire state plaza is beautiful in person and especially at night. it has a really romantic feel actually... ( to me )