The capital of New York State was originally called Fort
Orange, but as an honour to the Duke of York and Albany, it was renamed
in 1664. The city has a rich Dutch history, which explains the street names
and also the annual Tulip festival held in Washington Park.
Albany has been the capital of New York State since 1797,
and is one of America's oldest communities, founded in 1686. The
State Capitol offers tours and is a great way to see government in action.
And speaking of Washington Park, did you know that it was originally a cemetery?
In the 1840's, over 40,000 bodies were uprooted and moved to the Albany
Rural Cemetery, so that the park could be built by the same man who built
New York City's Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted.
The first railroad in America started here. Then, it ran from Albany to
Schenectady and was only 11 miles long. It was also the site of the first
Shaker settlement in 1776 and because of it has many landmarks and museums
dedicated to that community. But if you want to see something truly unique,
head to the Albany
Institute of History and Art. You will find two actual Egyptian mummies,
who have been lying there sine 1831.
If you're up for a detour, the Baseball
Hall Of Fame is about an hour away in Cooperstown, New York. It's a
must-see for even the casual sports fan.
New York's Capital Region is the home of some pretty interesting
inventions. Did you know that the Potato Chip, the Paper Clip, Pie a la
Mode and Detachable Shirt Collars all started in the Albany area?
Do you know how to wash your car without anything touching it? The Armory
Center does. This 85,000 square foot automotive complex has the only "touchless"
car wash in the northeastern United States. The complex also has food, shopping
and entertainment.
And have you ever wanted to learn all about Belgian beer? Go to the Brewery
Ommegang. It is the only brewery in the United States dedicated to making
traditional Belgian-style ales.
