A perfect way to start your tour of Albany is by visiting the Empire State Plaza.  Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller is accredited with this 98 acre phenonmen which is today known by the locals as the heart of the city.

The Plaza itself is made up of several famous landmarks.  At the north end of the Plaza is the New York State Capital.  This building has been used by the New York State government since the 1880’s.  Another famous landmark is the Egg.  Named after the shape of the builing itself, the Egg has been a part of the Plaza for over thirty years and is home to Albany’s Performing Arts Center.   This venue hosts mutiple events and performances all year round.   The tallest building in the Plaza is the Mayor Eratus Corning Tower.  If your looking for a great photo opportunity to get some amazing pictures of the city of Albany and of the Hudson River, you can head up to the 42nd floor of the tower to there obersavtion deck.  Another large part of the Plaza is the Convention Center.  This 80,000 square foot wonder hosts conferences, special events and consumer shows throughout the year. 

A large part of what there is to see at the Empire State Plaza is actually what is located outside of all the tall buildings.  The Plaza contains numerous memorials honoring the New Yorkers who dedicated their lives for the service of others.  Some of these famous memorials include:  The WWII Memorial, NYS Fallen Firefighters Memorial and The State of New York Police Officers Memorial.  All of the buildings in the Plaza are arranged around three enormous reflecting pools.  The reflection of the buildings on the water is a masterpiece in itself, but the Plaza also offers a unique art collection.  The Empire State Plaza Art Collection has been called “The finest collection of modern American art in any public site that is not a museum.”  You can walk the grounds and admire the beautiful sculptures that are set-up around the reflecting pools.

Besides being the gleaming marble complex at the apex of the Albany skyline, the Empire State Plaza rests above Albany’s underground city called the Concourse.  The Concourse connects all of the builings in the Plaza.  There are a few restaurants located in the Concourse as well as a post office and a visitor’s center.  If you come to the Concourse during the week around lunch time the place will be packed with locals who are grabbing a quick lunch. 

Address:  Between State St. & Eagle St. 
Phone:  518-474-2418
Email:  www.empirestateplaza.org