Empire State Plaza & New York State Capitol – Albany, NY
The Capitol is closed on Saturday and Sunday. They have 2 times on Saturday for tours and it’s by appointment only. We booked the 1:00 and they called and emailed to confirm. They also gave very detailed info on where park and where to meet. We left early to explore the Plaza and have lunch before the tour. We were glad we did. Finding parking for visitor’s was easy. However, since everything is closed, the elevators from the parking garage were not operating which wasn’t an issue as we just took the fire stairs. The interesting part came when we tried to find a way outside. The stairs brought us inside The Egg. (performing arts building) Every door and elevator was locked or not working. We finally found another set of stairs and they brought us into an underground mall that was also closed. We followed the signs to the Capitol building, but the doors were locked when we got there. We finally found a door that opened, but it took us to another parking lot. Now it felt like a cruel joke…lol We did finally find a stairway that got us outside. Whoo Hoo!
inside the mall
homeless on the bench
We
came out onto the Plaza and we wandered around the huge building that looked
like Count Dracula would come out an greet us. (or at least Bill & Sookie
on True Blood) Yikes! The building looked like it belonged in Transylvania.
The Egg on the left on the Empire State Plaza
State Capitol
all carvings were different - nothing was repeated inside or out
the front of the Capitol
I'm the dot at the base of the steps
I think they were dressed in costume for a performance
In front of the Capitol is an equestrian sculpture of Civil
War General Philip Sheridan, designed by John Quincy Adams Ward and Daniel
Chester French and completed in 1916.
The capitol building is part of the Empire State Plaza complex on State Street in Capitol Park. Housing the New York State Legislature, the building was completed in 1899 at a cost of US$25 million (equivalent to $753 million in 2018), making it the most expensive government building of its time. The New York State Capitol was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1979. The building is considered a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur. There were five architects and the Capitol was built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 32 years.
We found where we were to meet for the tour and then visited the park across the street and then walked around the area until it was time for lunch.
park across from the Capitol
State Education Building
State Education Building
State Education Building
State Education Building
It was early for lunch, but the Iron Gate Café had a long waiting line, so we got on the list. We ate outside on the patio which started out warm and nice and then got cool and breezy. I had the Curry Chicken Bowl which was Curry chicken salad, quinoa, sliced apple, shredded carrots, almonds, currants over mixed greens and Greg had the Thai Shrimp Bowl which was Sweet thai chili shrimp, cabbage, quinoa, kale, carrots, avocado, cilantro, lime. The food was exceptional. The décor inside the restaurant was quirky with lots of tributes to Elvis. Every home should have a “velvet Elvis”. Ha ha. We wandered back to meet for the tour with 15 minutes to spare.
Chicken Curry Bowl
Thai Chicken Bowl
State Education Building
The tour took around an hour and was very informative. The State wanted a “castle” and this building was their vision. I have to say it’s definitely the most interesting Capitol we have visited. Just over the top gaudy with all the carvings and styles of the 5 different architects. They didn’t like each other and often undermined the other’s work. Like the 2 fireplaces that don’t work and have never worked. The other architect put the chimneys on the upper floor, but on the opposite wall. The fireplaces were huge and were used when legislators wanted a private conversation since the acoustics in the room, made even a whisper reach up to the gallery where visitors were. It was the only place they could have a private conversation.
I think the inside was creepier since it was a weekend and we were the only people in there. "Maybe" with a hustle and bustle of people it wouldn't have felt like a mortuary.
smallest staircase
skylight
ceiling glass - one row all the way around the skylight has lots etchings
floor
New York State Senate
gold leaf walls
ceiling
New York State Assembly
they decorate their desks with flags that signify what they stand for
ceiling
library
Dunkin Donuts
the devil
We finished the tour and then wandered some more around the
area. We stopped at Ben & Jerry’s for ice cream and then walked through a
park that was having a festival.
this squirrel acted like he was going to jump on me
park
festival
walking back to the Capitol
We made our way to the Capitol and we finished walking around the complex and then went on a search for an open door to The Egg or the parking garage. All were locked. We found the same one we came out of and got back to the underground mall. It was still closed, so I guess they are only open Monday to Friday. Elevators still weren’t working, and all doors were locked. We finally tried an elevator that previously wasn’t working and now it was. So, we finally made it back to where the car was. I imagine M-F everything would have gone easier, but just not on Saturday.
The Egg
The Egg Performing Arts building
Fallen Firefighter Memorial
Corning Tower
inside the mall
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7Fdo3KUqjZa4eX4m8
Tomorrow we are doing a couple of hiking Trails in Bennington, Vermont
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