tours of albany ny capitol

New York State Capitol Tours

• Albany-Rensselaer
• Things to Do

Stroll atop Albany's State Street, the seat of government for New York since the late 19th century. Tour the architectural marvel that was hand-built of solid masonry over a 25-year period.

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Frey

Explore four floors of New York State history! The New York State Capitol sits at the top of Albany’s State Street hill, and serves as the house of New York’s government since the 1880’s. Guests can tour the 19 th century architectural building that took 32 years to be build for free.

Tour the Capitol

Tours are available on weekdays without a reservation or on Saturdays with a reservation.

Tours that run on Monday through Friday meet at the Capital State Street Lobby Information Desk. Tours on Saturday begin at the Plaza Visitor Center and Gift Shop. All tours are free and will last for approximately one hour. By taking a tour, visitors have access to a complete history of the building including ghost stories, unfinished carvings, famous inhabitants and all!

Self-guided tours are also available at the New York State Capitol during normal building hours. Guests can use audio files free of charge and can explore the building at their own leisure. Start the tour at any of the 20 stops, including the Senate Staircase, Senate Chamber, the Legislative Process, Governor’s Reception Room, Hall of Governors, the Flag Room and more. Make sure to visit this educational day trip that is perfect for any family, school or group!

Take Amtrak to New York State Capitol Tours

Experience the architectural marvel via Amtrak to Albany-Rensselaer Station  in Albany-Rensselaer -Don’t forget to use Amtrak’s  See New York and Save  15% discount !

Get picked up from Albany-Rensselaer Station and taken to your reserved NYTRAIN  Enterprise Rent-a-Car.  Click here to reserve your car  or call the Albany-Rensselaer office today at:  518-472-1111.

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Stroll atop Albany's State Street, the seat of government for New York since the late 19th…

Tour the New York State Capitol: What to see, when to go, where to park

• Updated: Sep. 15, 2023, 8:28 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 24, 2015, 5:01 p.m.
• Tim Knauss | [email protected]

The New York State Capitol took more than 30 years to build, beginning in 1867 and ending in 1899 when Gov. Theodore Roosevelt declared the building complete. It cost more than $25 million, making it more expensive than the U.S. Capitol. You can tour it for free.

What to expect

The Capitol is a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur, built by hand of solid masonry.  In places its walls are four or five feet thick. Five architects worked on its design. Highlights of the tour include the Senate and Assembly chambers, the governor's reception room, the grand staircases and the Hall of Governors. Museum-quality exhibits on New York State's history have been installed throughout the building.

Guided tours last 45 to 60 minutes. No reservation is required unless you are part of a group of 10 or more. A maxium of 45 people can participate in each tour. All tours begin at the information desk in the State Street Lobby of the Capitol.

You can also take a self-guided tour any time the building is open, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The audio tour can be downloaded  or accessed with a smart phone at various stops in the building.

Visitors are required to pass through metal detectors and have any bags scanned through an x-ray machine. Personal belongings such as backpacks and large bags should be left behind. Sharp objects, such as pocket knives and nail clippers, will not be allowed into the building.

State St. and Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224

The Capitol is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Guided tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The building is closed on weekends and holidays.

Admission and tours are free.

The nearest parking location is the V-Lot beneath the Empire State Plaza. The lot is accessed from Interstate 787 at the Empire State Plaza exit. Parking costs $10 if you enter before 11 a.m., and $5 after 11, on weekends and holidays. Other nearby parking lots  are also available.

For more information, visit the website  or call the Plaza Visitor Center at 518-474-2418.

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New York State Capitol Hauntings Tour

• Albany/Albany County
• Capital/Saratoga Region

The Haunting

Brave visitors will make their way through the Capitol to the exact spot where a night watchman died in a fire before exploring the legend of the "Secret Demon" near the Great Western Staircase. Discover which two Presidents visited the Capitol after they died and learn about the state Assembly Chamber's hidden murals and the tormented artist who created them. 

100 South Mall Arterial (Visitor Parking) Albany, NY 12242 P: (518) 474-2418 Guided Tours

Opportunities for visitors:

Capitol Hauntings tours, explore the legends, folklore, and tales of unexplained occurrences connected to the historic State Capitol, including mysteries behind the Capitol's most notorious carvings and the deadly fire of 1911. Guided tours; motorcoach friendly. Call for groups of 10 or more. 

For current COVID protocols and updates, visit: empirestateplaza.ny.gov.

Days/times of operation:

Building open Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm (closed government holidays).

Haunted tours take place on select dates/times, late September-October. 

FREE. Reservations required.

Handicap Accessible:

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The ghost of gangsters, a Capitol Building night watchman, bawdy women and doomed lovers are among the spirits who legendarily haunt Albany’s downtown. Colorful tour guides weave history and mystery to bring stories to life as you pass by the State Capital Building, State Supreme Court and other State Capitol Landmarks. Take a peak at the underbelly of Albany and test your courage on this nightly ghost tour.

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Celebrate Arbor Day! Five Unique Trees to Discover at The Pine Hollow Arboretum

Thursday, April 25, 2024 1:00 PM by Morgan Hughes

Celebrate Arbor Day! In honor of this national day of tree preservation and appreciation observed on April 26, we’ve collaborated with the Pine Hollow Arboretum  (PHA) located in Slingerlands. The Pine Hollow Arboretum is a true nature gem in Albany’s backyard, showcasing trees, shrubs, and other woody plants from around the world. The living tree museum has an awe-inspiring assortment of distinct trees, scroll through this blog to learn about five unique, fan-favorites selected by PHA's Executive Director, Gabrielle Sant'Angelo. 

Special thank you to PHA Executive Director, Gabrielle Sant'Angelo and former PHA intern, Laurel Stix for providing background information about each tree. Photos provided by the Pine Hollow Arboretum. Join the Pine Hollow Arboretum for their Arbor Day celebration Propagation 101 with Christian Grigoraskos  this Saturday, April 27 at 10 AM! 

1. Dawn Redwood Tree

In the late 90's and early 2000's when the Pine Hollow Arboretum was first established, no tree quite caught the eye of PHA's founder like the dawn redwood tree. This founder's favorite tree remains a fan favorite of visitors to the arboretum today. With roots in the arboretum dating back decades before PHA even existed, this original tree was planted in 1968  and has a lifespan extending 400 to 500 years. Native to China, seeds of the dawn redwood were first introduced to the US in 1946. In the fall, its needles turn to a beautiful shade of red. The fluting of the trunk and roots, which stabilize the tree as it grows, help it stand out as the centerpiece of the Metasequoia Field. 

2. Paw Paw Tree

Though you may not find them in the grocery store, and you may not have heard of them until now, the paw paw fruit that grows from the paw paw tree has been a part of this area's history for centuries. Native to North America, the fruit is used as a cooking ingredient and for eating raw. Reaching peak ripeness in September or October, the fruit is said to taste like a banana with hints of mango or pineapple. The paw paw is also the largest fruit native to North America with some pieces weighing up to 16 ounces. Visit the Pine Hollow Arboretum to view the cluster of paw paws, a tree species that bears centuries of the area's history, today.

Note: viewing the paw paw fruit when ripe is very cool to see but picking the paw paw fruit is off-limits! 

3. Weeping Alaskan Cedar Tree

This beautiful evergreen tree with boughs that droop down in a weeping form is native to the Pacific Northwest Coast. For centuries it has been used as a timber and wood source for indigenous peoples of that area. The weeping Alaskan cedar has been used for everything from homes and canoes to smaller utensils and thread for clothing and blankets. It's known botanically as the Callitropsis nootkatensis derived from the Nuu-chah-nulth people indigenous to Vancouver Island in British Columbia. 

4. Bald Cypress Tree 

A tree shrouded in mystery; the bald cypress is known for its unusual above ground roots called "knees." Though trees of this species have stood for thousands of years around the country, the purpose of its "knees" remains unknown. The tree continues to bewilder as one of very few trees both coniferous and deciduous.  Native to the Southeastern United States, the bald cypress grows in wet, swampy areas and can live for a thousand years. It's a standout visual in the arboretum's All Purpose Swamp. 

5. Green Ash Tree

Standing tall in the Magnolia Field, the green ash tree is currently an endangered species. Once a hardy street tree, the green ash is mainly threatened by an invasive beetle from Asia known as the Emerald Ash Borer. Part of the Pine Hollow Arboretum's work includes education about at-risk trees such as the green ash and ways to help protect these species. 

Author: Morgan Hughes

Morgan Hughes is the Marketing Assistant for Discover Albany. She grew up in Schenectady, NY before attending SUNY New Paltz to study Digital Media Management & English. While attending school, she found a love for both marketing and storytelling. After returning to the Capitol Region, she joined Discover Albany to help showcase the stories of Albany County and exemplify to both visitors and locals the countless amazing things happening in the area.

Capital District Albany   Rensselaer   Schenectady Serving Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Counties

Admitted Scammer Michael Matteo Jumps To Death On Albany Hwy

This story has been updated.

The I-90/I-787 interchange in Albany. 

New details are emerging after a man jumped to his death from atop an interstate overpass in the region, shutting down the highway for over an hour.

The Albany County incident happened at around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, near the I-90/I-787 interchange in Albany.

Earlier Report: $138K Scam: Contractor Skips Town After Taking Albany Homeowner's Cash, Police Say

New York State Police said a person jumped from the I-90 overpass onto I-787 and was pronounced dead at the scene. No vehicles were involved and there were no other reports of injuries.

The deceased individual is 57-year-old Michael Matteo, of Albany, his attorney Joseph McCoy confirmed to Daily Voice. He was scheduled to be sentenced to up to seven years in prison in Albany County Court on Tuesday morning, roughly an hour before his death, court records show.

In February, Matteo pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny after Albany Police said he scammed an Albany homeowner out of more than $138,000 for renovation work that was never completed.

As part of his plea agreement, he was to repay $138,698 in restitution or else face up to seven years in prison.

An Albany County judge issued an arrest warrant after Matteo failed to appear Tuesday morning. McCoy said the Albany County District Attorney’s office informed him of his client’s death roughly an hour later.

The incident closed all northbound lanes of I-787 between exits 5 and 6 for nearly 90 minutes. The roadway fully reopened at noon.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at: 988lifeline.org .

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