Photography by George Cassidy Payne
“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. Under the direction of five architects, the Capitol was built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 32 years. By 1899 its cost had exceeded twenty-five million dollars.” Take a Guided Tour – learn more at http://www.empirestateplaza.org.
Henry Hudson first claimed this area for the Dutch in 1609. Fur traders established the first European settlement in 1614; Albany was officially chartered as a city in 1686. It became the capital of New York in 1797.
The gigantic Department of Education building.“The Education Building was designed by renowned architect and New York City native Henry Hornbostel. The Education Building was the first major building constructed in the United States solely as a headquarters for the administration of education. Construction of this magnificent building was completed in 1912.” http://www.nysed.gov/nysed-building
“Designed by John Eberson, the world’s foremost theatre architect of the time, the Radio Keith Orpheum (RKO) owned facility spared no expense in its design and boasted an ornate Austrian Baroque design with “atmospheric” elements in the auditorium. Though many changes have taken place since its opening, the Palace has retained most of its original design features, including an impressive brass chandelier in the main lobby, original murals painted by Hungarian artists, Andrew Karoly and Louis Szanto and plaster beams in the fore-lobby painted to resemble carved wood. ” https://www.palacealbany.org/about/history
Author William Kennedy arrives at the “Ironweed” premiere on Dec. 17, 1987. (Albany Times Union archive)
“The Renaissance Albany is the first and only lifestyle luxury Marriott brand located in downtown Albany. The hotel is conveniently located at the corner of Eagle and State over looking the beautiful NYS Capitol building. The Renaissance Albany features 203 spacious over sized guest rooms along with a full service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. ” https://www.albany.org/listing/renaissance-albany-hotel/1526/
“The state capitol’s ground floor was built in the Classical/Romanesque style. Lieutenant Governor William Dorsheimer then dismissed Fuller in favor of Eidlitz and Richardson who built the next two floors in a Renaissance Classical style, noticeable on the exterior two floors as light, open columnwork. The increasing construction costs became an ongoing source of conflict in the legislature, and it was difficult to secure the necessary funding. Eidlitz and Richardson, were dismissed by Grover Cleveland upon his election to governorship and his review of the increasing costs of construction. He hired Perry to complete the project. The legislative chambers, the fourth floor and roof work were all finished in Victorian-modified Romanesque that was distinctively Richardson’s design. It “was Richardson who dominated the final outcome of the grand building, which evolved into his distinguished Romanesque style” (which came to be known as Richardsonian Romanesque).” (Taken from Wikipedia)
View of Albany skyline from highway.
One can’t paint New York as it is, but rather as it is felt.
— Georgia O’Keeffe
