Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza

Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza Official page for Visitor Information & Tours of the and ! Kathy Hochul, Governor, State of New York
Jeanette M.

The New York State Capitol has served as the seat of government for New York since the 1880’s. Over 125 years old, the building is a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur. Built by hand of solid masonry, it took 5 architects and 32 years to complete. Over the years meticulous restoration has been done to maintain and protect the Capitol for future generations of New Yorkers. Our tours

go beyond just the Capitol building, take a tour of the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza and the extensive modern art collection found in the Main Concourse and the Corning Tower. Or visit the Observation Deck on the 42nd floor of the Corning Tower, the tallest building in New York State outside of New York City. Or call in advance and book a tour of the New York State Executive Mansion. Moy, Acting Commissioner, Office of General Services

Gallop, don't walk, to the Visitor’s Center Shop at the Empire State Plaza! 🐎 The Saratoga Race Course is stirring up e...
08/12/2026

Gallop, don't walk, to the Visitor’s Center Shop at the Empire State Plaza! 🐎

The Saratoga Race Course is stirring up excitement all summer long. What better way to celebrate racing season than with a few horse-themed finds?

A horse jockey pouch: yay or neigh? Pair it with socks for some serious mane character energy.

Race your friends to the Visitor Center & Gift Shop! Open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Is the New York State Capitol the perfect place to work? Well, we think so. But we may be a bit biased. So, here are the...
08/07/2026

Is the New York State Capitol the perfect place to work? Well, we think so. But we may be a bit biased.

So, here are the facts:

🏛️ Beautiful and unique work environment
💁‍♀️Interacting with new people
📚Educating others about New York State’s history

What’s not to like?

🔗 Learn more about our Visitor Services Assistant position and apply at the link: on.ny.gov/220682

🗓️ Applications are due by Thursday, December 31, 2026.

Trade the usual Friday night routine for an evening inside one of New York's most iconic buildings on an evening tour of...
08/07/2026

Trade the usual Friday night routine for an evening inside one of New York's most iconic buildings on an evening tour of the New York State Capitol!
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As part of Metroland Now’s First Friday Albany — a citywide celebration of art, music, and special events — this tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the Capitol’s remarkable architecture and history in a whole new light.
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🕠 Tours depart from the State Street Lobby at 5:30 p.m.
🆓 This tour is free and open to the public!
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Can't make this one? No worries! We're offering free Capitol Tours every Friday evening throughout August.
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Reservations are not required for individuals or parties of 10 or fewer. For more information, including details about group reservations, please visit on.ny.gov/capitol.

Fair warning: You might leave with more than just a passport. 🧈 🎡 Fair season is officially here, and the Empire State ...
08/05/2026

Fair warning: You might leave with more than just a passport. 🧈

🎡 Fair season is officially here, and the Empire State Plaza Visitor Center & Gift Shop has your FREE New York State Frequent Fairgoers Official Passport. Collect stamps at fairs across New York and celebrate the best of agriculture, food, entertainment, and local traditions.

While you're here, browse our fair-inspired collection featuring plush farm animals, puzzles, home goods, and quirky New York gifts (including our fan-favorite butter sticks 🧈).

Stop in before your next adventure! Open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With this job, you’re going to take an epic number of steps around some of ’s most historic sites: on.ny.gov/220682 n...
07/31/2026

With this job, you’re going to take an epic number of steps around some of ’s most historic sites: on.ny.gov/220682

needs YOU to:
🔸Conduct guided tours of the New York State Capitol, the Empire State Plaza, and the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection
🔸 Give engaging and thorough tour presentations
🔸Answer questions from visitors
& more!

🔗 Learn more and apply at the link: on.ny.gov/220682

🗓️ Applications are due by Thursday, December 31, 2026.

Happy Birthday to Alexander Calder!​Born in 1898, Calder redefined sculpture by bringing it to life, literally. In 193...
07/22/2026

Happy Birthday to Alexander Calder!
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Born in 1898, Calder redefined sculpture by bringing it to life, literally. In 1931, he created his first “mobile,” launching a whole new genre of kinetic art.
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You can see his work in motion right here in . “Four at Forty-Five Degrees,” part of the Empire State Plaza Art Collection and currently on loan to the New York State Museum, shows how Calder used open, airy forms to shape space rather than fill it.
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In the 1960s, Calder started working with massive steel sheets, creating large-scale works that felt both architectural and playful. His “Triangles and Arches” is a perfect example — its bold shapes echo the nearby Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, blending art and environment in a way only Calder could.
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Today, we celebrate his legacy and the joy, movement, and imagination his work inspires. Look up, stay grounded, and let creativity move you. 💫
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© 2026 Calder Foundation, New York / Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York

Happy Birthday to Fritz Glarner!​Big, bold, and built from simple shapes, Fritz Glarner's “Untitled” proves that squares...
07/20/2026

Happy Birthday to Fritz Glarner!
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Big, bold, and built from simple shapes, Fritz Glarner's “Untitled” proves that squares, rectangles, and primary colors can make a powerful statement. 🟥 🟦 🟨
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A leading figure in American geometric abstract art, Glarner drew inspiration from the Dutch De Stijl movement but made it his own. By introducing soft grays, diagonal lines, and subtle shifts in shape, he created murals that feel dynamic, even though they're composed almost entirely of straight lines.
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This monumental mural, located inside the Robert Abrams Building for Law & Justice, was one of the final murals Glarner completed before his passing and remains a striking part of the Empire State Plaza Art Collection.
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Stop by to see how a few simple shapes can transform an entire wall.

Happy Birthday to William T. Williams! 🎉​Bold, colorful, and full of energy, “Sweets Crane” has been turning heads at th...
07/17/2026

Happy Birthday to William T. Williams! 🎉
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Bold, colorful, and full of energy, “Sweets Crane” has been turning heads at the Empire State Plaza since 1969.
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Williams is known for creating abstract works that invite you to look a little longer. In “Sweets Crane,” bright bands of color overlap and weave around a shimmering bronze-gold center, creating a sense of movement that seems to shift as you walk by.
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Next time you're on the Plaza Concourse, stop and spend a few moments with this vibrant painting. You might notice something new every time you visit.
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🖼️ “Sweets Crane” is one of more than 90 modern and contemporary works in the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, free to explore year-round.

in 1779, an American victory was secured by the Continental Army during the Battle of Stony Point — one of the last Re...
07/16/2026

in 1779, an American victory was secured by the Continental Army during the Battle of Stony Point — one of the last Revolutionary War battles in the Hudson Valley.
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We invite you to explore America250 sites in New York and learn about Revolutionary battles by visiting the “Battlefields of Liberty: Revolutionary War Sites in New York” exhibition in person or online.
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📍 State Street Tunnel
🕖 Monday – Friday | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
🔗 on.ny.gov/4tt0grT

Summer sightseeing just got an upgrade! 🏛️​Explore one of New York's most iconic landmarks with a FREE guided tour of th...
07/15/2026

Summer sightseeing just got an upgrade! 🏛️
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Explore one of New York's most iconic landmarks with a FREE guided tour of the New York State Capitol. In addition to our weekday Capitol tours at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m., we're offering Friday Evening Capitol Tours at 5:30 p.m. throughout July and August.
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Whether you're visiting for the first time or rediscovering the Capitol, there's always something new to see, from stunning architecture to fascinating history. ✨
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📍 Tours begin in the Capitol's State Street Lobby
🔗 Learn more at on.ny.gov/capitol

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100 South Mall Arterial
Albany, NY
12210

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+15184742418

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