Locations:
1.New York State Capitol Building, home to the Governor and Legislative bodies of New York State.
2. The Legislative Office Building, just across State Street every office for each New York State Assembly and Senate member.
3. New York State Museum, the educational center for all of New York States history.
4. The Egg, host to entertainment for the capital region.
5. Empire State Plaza, the center of politics and entertainment in downtown Albany.
n.d. New York State Assembly . Accessed February 28, 2016. http://assembly.state.ny.us/directions/.
n.d. New York State Museum . Accessed February 28, 2016. https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/.
n.d. Office of General Services . Accessed February 28, 2016. http://www.ogs.ny.gov/esp/ct/tours/Capitol.asp.
n.d. Office of General Services . Accessed February 28, 2016. http://www.ogs.ny.gov/esp/.
n.d. The Egg. Accessed February 28, 2016. http://www.theegg.org/.
A short walking tour but filled with so much history the Empire State Plaza walking tour takes roughly twenty one minutes. All locations are in one isolated location in downtown Albany around our first location the New York State Capitol building. From there the Empire State Plaza was built to bring entertainment and government to one central location. The Legislative office building that houses the offices of Assemblymen and Senators alike is filled with political history that you’d expect from the state capitol. The New York State Museum sits directly across from the Capitol Building, filled with all things that shows the greatness of New York State. Just a few short steps from the museum is the Egg. Named for it iconic shape it has hosted all forms of entertainment, from musicians to comedians. The rest of the Plaza is home to office buildings dedicated to different departments of the state but the Plaza is used for so much more. Art work from local and national artists parades the outer walkway while the ends are stage ready for free concerts during the summer. There is also a scenic over downtown Albany as well a memorial to firefighters. This tour is dedicated to be family friendly. It’s a shirt distance that can be walked by old and young alike, families will be able to enjoy historical tours of the Capitol Building and the New York State Museum, then take a tour of the Empire Plaza that has playgrounds for children as well as events almost every weekend in the summer. Food tucks and farmers markets are great ways to get a taste of local life. The great thing about Albany is the political history, it surrounds Albany and gives it a unique twist from other cities in New York, but like other cities it has the entertainment factor that can be enjoyed by all ages. The center city for the capitol region has seen many acts. The best place to get a taste of all Albany has to offer is right in the Empire State Plaza.
New York State Capitol Building
To continue my research I still need to gain more information on the Legislative Office Building. Find out who runs the Empire State Plaza and see what demographics would enjoy this tour.
I see we both intend on including the New York State Museum in our respective tours. Do you plan on including the Corning Tower in your tour as well? I have never been but I hear the views are amazing on a clear day.
We both shared the similar idea of keeping our tour in one specific area. Also, both our tours are under thirty minutes and I think that’s great because it allows a more diverse audience to participate.
The State government runs the Plaza, and Office of General Services is sort of the maintenance crew. The State Police run security, and there’s a ton of stuff under the Plaza that’s been restricted since 2001 because there are access tunnels the Governor uses to get in and out without snarling up traffic.
Your biggest challenge with this is going to be figuring out what to say that those building’s visitor websites don’t already say. You can use those sources as a starting point, but what’s the unique take that you’re going to give your visitor? Is it a focus on the architectural style? A discussion of some of the people/events connected to those places, like FDR, Lincoln Kennedy’s visits to Albany? (https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/sets/72157635092349198, https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/albums/72157634727054630, https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/albums/72157637927446093) Or maybe things that were there but aren’t any more, like the Albany Penitentary https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/sets/72157634208676518 and the Little Italy neighborhood where the Plaza now is https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/sets/72157639130161276?
Think big and try to figure out something your visitor can get by following your tour that they can’t get from just going to these places and paying the State Museum for their tour.