tour albany capitol building

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.

Search New York by Rail

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

Purchase a Downtown Albany Gift Card

Search | News | About the BID

Government Building

State st. and washington ave., 518.474.2418.

Sitting majestically atop Albany's State Street hill, the New York State Capitol has served as the seat of government for New York since the 1880s. The building is a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur, built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 25 years. The building recently underwent an extensive restoration to maintain and protect it for future generations of New Yorkers.

Walk-In Tours:  Walk-in tours of the Capitol for the general public are offered Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required. Tours are also available by reservation only on the second Saturday of each month at 11am and 1pm -  register online now for Saturday tours . There are no public tours on Sundays and holidays. In addition, visitors may download a  self-guided audio tour  to use while visiting the State Capitol. For more information, please call the Plaza Visitor Center at 518-474-2418.

DOWNTOWN ALBANY

Business Improvement District

21 LODGE STREET

ALBANY, NY 12207

PHONE: 518.465.2143

FAX: 518.465.0139

[email protected]

COPYRIGHT 2024 © DOWNTOWN ALBANY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

New York State Capitol

Plan your visit

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

New York State Capitol, Albany

• (0.18 mi) Renaissance Albany Hotel
• (0.31 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-Downtown
• (0.34 mi) Fairfield Inn & Suites Albany Downtown
• (0.24 mi) Hilton Albany
• (0.24 mi) State Street Mansion Bed and Breakfast
• (0.01 mi) Dunkin'
• (0.13 mi) Wellington's
• (0.16 mi) Fidens Brewing Company
• (0.16 mi) The Crispy Cannoli
• (0.35 mi) Iron Gate Cafe
• (0.04 mi) Albany City Hall
• (0.10 mi) New York State Education Department
• (0.11 mi) Hudson Valley
• (0.16 mi) The Egg
• (0.21 mi) Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza

N.Y. / Region

Published: march 8, 2013, capitol redux.

A renovation of the New York State Capitol in Albany was completed in 2012. Below, a visual tour of some of its highlights. Related Article »

Constructed between 1867 and 1899, the New York State Capitol was designed as a none-too-subtle symbol of New York’s prosperous place in the world after the Civil War.

Located in downtown Albany, the building is a mix of styles, and was worked on by several architects before being completed by Issac G. Perry, a prolific builder known for his work on, among other buildings, the New York State Inebriate Asylum in Binghamton.

With a granite foundation and a planned dome (never completed), the total cost was $25 million — a figure that translates to more than half a billion dollars today — which made it one of the most expensive public works projects in the country.

The current renovation began in 2000, and was completed – ahead of schedule – in 2012.

The Great Western Staircase (a k a The Million Dollar Staircase)

An Arte Mundit resin mask that was applied to a Benjamin Franklin carving to clean it. The resin was used throughout the restoration of the State Capitol.

Considered one of the true treasures of the Capitol, the staircase near the building’s western entrance is famed for the delicate faces in carved sandstone. It took more than a dozen years, and hundreds of stonecutters, to complete. Legend has it that some stonecutters carved the likenesses of friends and family alongside more famous personages.

Part of the restoration included a cleaning of the stone, using peel-away resin coating to strip away decades of dirt and even residue from a 1911 fire.

Originally expected to cost $1 million at the time of its construction – hence the nickname – the staircase ran over budget.

The War Room

The War Room is centrally located on the Capitol’s second floor – home to the Governor’s Office, the Hall of Governors and the Hall of New York, which features paintings of cities and landscapes from around the state, like “Syracuse at Night,” “Low Tide at Glen Cove Landing."

With its colorful and sometimes surreal depictions of warriors both real and mythical, the War Room also includes murals of New York heroes, like Col. Theodore Roosevelt, who became the state’s 33rd governor (and 26th president of the United States).

Senate and Assembly Staircases

The two eastern staircases each lead to a different side of the legislative branch. The brighter and bolder Assembly staircase sits to the north, with the more subdued Senate stairway on the south side of the building. Each is topped with a newly restored skylight, allowing natural light to flow into the building. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said it was symbolic of a government that he wanted to be transparent.

“We were trying to do so much when we came in, and trying to show progress,” the governor said, adding that the physical nature of the renovation “became a proxy for what we were trying to say.”

The Assembly and Senate Chambers

The two chambers of the State Legislature are also distinctly their own. The entrance to the Assembly Chamber — the “People’s Chamber” and the largest room in the Capitol — is flanked with marble columns, with an ornate chandelier hung from a ceiling that rises more than 50 feet above. The Gothic chamber’s restoration included new carpet, matching the original red from its 19th century debut; fresh replicas of original mahogany doors; the discovery and resetting of original tiles; and repairs to the stained glass.

The Senate moved into its chambers in 1881, adjacent to the office of the lieutenant governor, who serves as its president. Gold leaf adorns its upper walls, while intricate tile and carpet cover the floors inside and out.

During a recent walking tour with a reporter, Mr. Cuomo seemed enthralled by the handiwork. “This was New York when New York was, in some ways, at its boastful best,” he said.

The Hall of Governors

Governor Cuomo in the Hall of Governors last week.

Governor Cuomo’s very first executive order in 2011 was to reopen the second floor of the Capitol — home to the executive branch — to the public. Openness, he said, was “essential to the maintenance of a democratic society.”

Not long after, he also ordered the entire renovation to be accelerated to both save money and, he said, to make a statement. “It was dusty, it was dirty, it was just like one of these government capital projects that was never going to end,” he said.

To that end, the second floor Hall of Governors was spruced up: repainted, relighted and reorganized to add historical placards and put the gubernatorial portraits in chronological progression.

“You’d have a teacher with a group of fourth graders walking up and down the hall looking at these pictures of old white men in no particular order,” the governor said, adding, “Now, when a school brings up a class, it’s a history lesson.”

Related Links

A jewel in albany regains its luster, a cuomo microscope on capitol renovation, slide show : history at the state capitol.

New York State Capitol Building

• New York State Capitol Building – Albany, New York

New York State Capitol History

Assembly chamber, senate chamber, driving directions.

Most state capitol buildings are domed with a definite similarity to the national capitol building.  New York is totally different; it was inspired by Classical architecture as the Hotel de Ville in Paris. It took the efforts of four architects to get it to the stunning building it is today.

The building stands four hundred feet long and three hundred feet wide with five stories and a full basement and attic!  It is constructed primarily of gray granite.  The walls are over sixteen feet thick at the foundation holding this massive structure.

Although the inspiration for the building is from the Hotel it ended up with a “battle of styles”, in which Italian Renaissance, Romanesque and French Renaissance were all blended to accomplish the look of today.

The building was completed in 1899 for a cost of $25 million dollars, which today would be roughly half a billion dollars.) It was the most expensive government building of its time.  Construction of the building began in 1867.

One of the major expenditures on the interior of the building was the construction of the 166-foot-long exterior Eastern Staircase. The Capitol exterior is made of white granite from Hallowell, Maine, and the building incorporates marble cut by state prisoners at Sing Sing. The granite structure is 220 feet (67 m) tall at its highest point, and it is one of ten U.S. state capitols that do not have a domed roof.

Over the past 100 years, the Capitol Building has been plagued by a string of catastrophic events. In 1911, a fire devoured 450,000 books and 270,000 manuscripts in the State Library. It was one of the greatest library disasters of modern times. In 1887, a seven-pound chunk of stone dropped from the arched Assembly chamber ceiling, missing an assemblyman by inches. Years later, water seeped through the ceiling and discolored two murals on the upper walls. A new, flat wooden ceiling was built 20 feet below the previous one, forever sealing the original murals from public view. Even today, the Capitol Building suffers from a stubborn roof leak.

Not only were there problems after the building was constructed but at the very beginning the construction faced problems when it was discovered that it was being built on quicksand.  That meant that the san ad was to be scooped out (and not with modern equipment…remember it was in the mid-1800s) and completely replaced by clay and concrete.  Follow that up with the fact that the cornerstone of the building, which contains copies of all the legislation relating to the Capitol, various U.S. coins and currency of 1871, and Albany newspapers of the day wasn’t marked to it is still unknown which stone it is.

The largest room in the Capitol building is the Assembly Chamber.  It has a groined vaulted sandstone ceiling that rose to a height of 56 feet above the floor.  Today you can’t see the ceiling because of the additional ceiling that had to be constructed to keep the sandstone ceiling from falling on those meeting below.  When the building settled, the ceiling started cracking and breaking off becoming a danger to everyone.

The lobby is a smaller scale than the huge vaulted ceiling that originally graced the Assembly chamber.

Be sure to pay attention to the staircases when you visit.  they are lavishly cared for in a variety of stones and crowned with magnificent skylights.  All three of the stairwells are stunning additions to the capital building.  The Great Western Staircase took 14 years to construct and cost more than one million dollars at the time.  There are 444 steps and it reaches 119 feet high.

Among the 77 famous faces beautifully carved into the sandstone, staircases are such famous Americans as Washington, Lincoln, Grant, and Susan B. Anthony – each etched with astonishingly fine detail. With the stone gallery of prominent Americans out of the way, Perry (the architect at that time) decided to allow his elite group of carvers to sculpt the faces of friends, relatives, and people seen on the streets.

The Senate Chamber has a carved golden oak ceiling with deep paneled recesses which creates an acoustically perfect “debate arena” for the senators.  The walls are covered with 23-carat gold leaf.  The interior consists of imported Siena marble from Italy for the large arches above the visitor’s gallery, red granite from Scotland for the pillars, and Mexican onyx to panel the north and south walls. The ultimate in luxury was attained with red leather and carved mahogany paneling on the walls below the galleries.

At the back of the chamber are two large fireplaces, each with openings six feet high. Designed initially as sources of heat, they soon became mere decorations when electricity became a standard feature of the completed building. However, building on a tradition that began with the English parliament, the fireplaces were soon serving as quiet meeting areas for senators to “walk into”, and discuss important issues, And, because the chamber’s acoustics allowed for virtually every spoken word to be heard, these “fireplace” chats soon became an everyday occurrence.

Executive Chamber

The Executive Chamber is called the Red Room.  The Red Room remains one of the truly outstanding works within the Capitol. Designed by Senate Chamber architect, Henry Hobson Richardson, the similarities between the two rooms are apparent. It has the same carpeting, chandeliers, and gold leaf wall band that the Senate Chamber possesses. The room has elegant mahogany wainscoting, and the intricate coffered oak ceiling is stained to match. Additionally, a beautiful bronze leaf band covers the upper half of the walls.

Guided tours of the New York State Capitol are available seven days a week. If you are planning on being in the Albany area, and are interested in a guided tour of the Capitol, call your local Assemblymember or contact the Office of General Services – Visitor Assistance at (518) 474-2418 for tour times.

From the North: Take Interstate 87 (Northway) to Interstate 90 (East) exit, proceed east to Interstate 787, and take Empire Plaza exit.

From the South: Take New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) to Exit 23 – straight through Toll Booth to Interstate 787, then take Empire Plaza exit.

From the East: Take Interstate 90 and cross the Hudson River. Take exit to Interstate 787 South, along the river. Take Empire Plaza exit.

From the West: Take the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) to Exit 24 (Albany), proceed east on Interstate 90 to Interstate 787 South, along the river. Take Empire Plaza Exit.

The New York State Capitol is an incredible example of political and architectural achievements. Preserving the original design and showcasing its history, it serves as a reminder of the importance of tradition and resilience. The building continues to be a powerful symbol of democracy and state pride, standing proudly in Albany. It stands as a beautiful testament to the rich history of New York State and its people, reminding us that we have much to learn from our past.

Related posts:

Share this:, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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:

Image gallery.

More Photos

Nearby Haunts

Eerie Albany Ghost Tours

Schenectady's Historic Stockade District

Old Stone Fort Museum

Widow Susan Road

Saratoga Springs History Museum/Historic Canfield Casino

Dr. Best House & Medical Museum

The Beekman House

Haunted Saratoga Ghost Tours

Grapevine Farms

Historic Hotel Broadalbin

Bull's Head Inn

Montgomery County Old Courthouse

The Knox Mansion

Fulton County Historical Society

Old Fort House Museum

Timeless Tavern Restaurant & Inn

Old Dutch Church Cemetery

Fort William Henry Museum

The Mystery Spot of Lake George

Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours

The Shanley Hotel

Barkeater Chocolates

Hamlet of Pine Bush: UFO Capital of the East Coast

The Stanley Theatre

Burn Brae Mansion

Woodland Farm Brewery Taproom at The Hulbert House

Silvio's Villa

Park After Dark Ghost Tours

The Brae Loch Inn

The Tarrytown Music Hall

King House Mansion at the Tarrytown House Estate

Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum

Phelps Mansion Museum

Roberson Mansion

The Historic Bundy House

Split rock quarry.

The 1890 House Museum

Erie Canal Museum

The Landmark Theatre

13 curves on onondaga hill.

1867 Parkview Inn

Starr Clark Tin Shop and Underground Railroad Museum

Casey's Cottage at Mexico Point State Park

Fainting Goat Island Inn

Thompson Park Vortex

The Paddock Mansion

Seward House Museum's Haunted History Tours

Fingerlakes mall.

Haunted Oswego Tour

Fort Ontario State Historic Site

Seneca Falls Historical Society

Miles Wine Cellars

Belhurst Castle

Museum of Wayne County History

Bishop/gillette headstone.

The Fox Sisters Property/Hydesville Memorial Park

Historic Palmyra WM. Phelps General Store & Historic Palmyra Historical Museum

The Naples Hotel

Union Tavern

Durand eastman park.

Hose 22 Firehouse Grill

The Bushnell House

Genesee Falls Inn

Rolling Hills Asylum

Seymour Place

Pratt Event Center

Hart House Hotel

Graestone Manor Bed and Breakfast

Winery at Marjim Manor

ParaNiagara at The Western Block

Lockport cave.

The Van Horn Mansion

Iron Island Museum

The Rapids Theatre

Red Coach Inn

Ivy League Psychic Academy

Lily Dale Assembly

Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum

Related blogs.

Hunt For Ghosts Galore on an Albany Road Trip

More about albany/albany county, more about the capital/saratoga region.

Ghost Tours in Albany

Ghosts of Albany prides itself on being a unique haunted experience. Our tours happen in downtown Albany and are designed to scare you out of your socks. We have tours available every day, and times can be customized as you wish. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions.

• Friday and Saturday

Ghosts of Albany

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.

Private Tour: Ghosts of Albany

The ghost of gangsters, a Capitol Building night watchman, bawdy women and doomed lovers are among of the spirits who legendarily haunt Albany’s downtown.

• Meetings & Groups

• Back to Previous

New York State Capitol Tour: Albany First Fridays

• Presented By: Office of General Services Location: New York State Capitol Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12224 Albany, NY 12224
• Dates: April 5, 2024 - December 6, 2024
• Recurrence: Recurring monthly on the 1st Friday
• Time: 5:30 PM
• Price: FREE
• Phone: (518) 915-0026
• Visit Website

This tour is offered in conjunction with  Albany First Fridays  and will be held on the first Friday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are not required for our monthly, First Friday Tours. Please note, that this tour is reserved for individuals and smaller groups of less than 10. If a group of 10 or more shows up for this tour, we may be unable to accommodate them due to the group's size. If you have a group of 10 or more, please contact the Plaza Visitor Center at 518-474-2418 to plan your visit accordingly. About First Fridays

On the first Friday of each month, Albany comes alive with arts and culture. Enjoy events, specials, exhibits, and much more throughout the city.

About the Capitol

Sitting atop Albany’s State Street hill, the New York State Capitol has served as the seat of government for New York since the 1880s. The building is a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur, built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 32 years. Highlights of the 45-minute tours can include the legislative chambers, Hall of Governors, Governor’s Reception Room, Hall of New York, historic staircases, and carvings.

Security: Visitors to the Capitol must pass through metal detectors and have 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, nail clippers, weapons, and nuisance devices such as whistles and noisemakers are not allowed into the building. 

When: First Friday of the Month Times:  5:30 p.m. Location: Information Desk in Capitol’s State Street lobby Reservations : Reservations are NOT required, walk-ins are permitted. If a group of 10 or more shows up for this tour, we may be unable to accommodate them due to the group's size. If you have a group of 10 or more, please contact the Plaza Visitor Center at 518-474-2418 to plan your visit accordingly.

Discover Attractions