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Travel
to Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of New York State and is full of
surprises. For the sports enthusiast, there are hockey, football, and
basketball at the Pepsi Arena. For those who prefer something quieter, there
are many museums and historic buildings to tour. There are guided tours by
trolley, on foot, and even by horse drawn-carriage taking your through Albany's
neighborhoods, providing information about attractions and historic sites.
Having taken 13 years to build, Albany’s vast Empire State Plaza
covers 98 acres. The Plaza features striking architecture and the world’s
largest collection of modern art not housed in a museum. At the end of the
super sleek structure is the Capitol building, which was 30 years in the
making. The State Capitol sits atop one of the seven hills that fashion the
city's landscape.
Albany’s downtown is thriving, due in large part
to the more than $30 million renovation that was undertaken to make the city
more appealing. Power lines were replaced and buried underground beneath the
300-year-old streets; new trees were planted; period lampposts replaced with
modern illumination; and vintage cobbled sidewalks were built. A pedestrian
bridge spanning the interstate and dubbed the Hudson River Way, allows visitors
to enjoy the scenic Hudson River banks once more. |
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Paintings on 30 lampposts along the bridge depict
memorable aspects of Albany’s past. The paintings have pedestrians doing
double takes. Trompe l’oeil, a 16th-century painting technique that means,
“tricks the eye,” does just that. The paintings appear to be the
actual objects depicted, not just artistically rendered images. |
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Albany is the home of the New York State Museum, the
largest state museum in the country. With three and a half acres of exhibits
and no admission charge, the museum is an inexpensive and fascinating way to
spend an afternoon.
New York State Museum
by
James C
Are you heading to Albany for a vacation or just for a
long weekend? If so, you have many choices when it comes to available
activities. If you would like to add some culture to your trip, I would like to
suggest you visit the New York State Museum. Its a great way to spend an
afternoon or even a whole day if you like. Read along and learn a little bit
about the museum.
The New York State Museum is the largest museum of its
kind in the country. By touring the museum you can get an idea of the history
of New York State. Its exhibits aim to teach you about the culture and natural
history of the state. One of the newest exhibits added to the museum is "The
World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response." The exhibit tries to document
and capture this historic tragedy. You can see rubble from the towers, a
wrecked fire engine that responded to the scene and film of the event. Other
exhibits range from the "Birds of New York" which shows you the 170 different
species of birds in the state to the "Fire Engine Hall" which details the
different fire equipment used over the years to the "New York Metropolis"
exhibit which details New Yorks growth throughout the years. There are many
more permanent exhibits to see and the museum staff is always bringing in fresh
exhibits to keep things fresh.
If you would like to visit the museum you should call to
find out there current hours. The museums information line is 518-474-5877.
Normal hours are 9:30 AM to 5PM and the museum is located in downtown Albany
across the street from the capital. There is no fee to enter the museum but
donations are accepted and appreciated.
Visit the authors website to learn more about
Albany carpet cleaning.
Information on carpet and upholstery cleaners in Albany, New York.
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