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UPPER HUDSON
http://www.albany.org/visitors-center/
25 Quackenbush Square
Albany, NY 12207
Hours: Call for hours.
Phone: (518) 434-1217 or 1-800-258-3582
Fax: (518) 434-0887
Historical Description:
Henry Hudson discovered Albany while attempting to find a shorter route to the East in 1609. Following his discovery, Dutch merchants settled in Albany to acquire and export goods that were found in the region, including furs and timber. The area grew until it became the central gateway to the Northeast Passage. Coincidentally the area, in which Hudson found the navigable rivers end and the point where the Erie Canal begins, is the same area where the most industrialization of the region happened. The area has preserved much of the architecture from the 19th and early 20th century.
The Site:
The visitors center provides detailed information about the historical significance of the area and impact that it as made on the Hudson Valley. The present-day Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center is in historic Quackenbush Square. This center is designed to be the starting point of any tour of discovery around historic Albany. The Quackenbush House is located directly next to the Visitors Center. It was built in 1736, and remains the oldest Dutch building in the city today. The most impressive example of the cities architecture can be seen at the state Capitol, which resides atop one of the seven hills that define the city. The Capitol, with its grand staircases, legislative chambers and breathtaking exterior, is the historic centerpiece of New York State.
Directions:
From East: I-90 westbound (via Massachusetts Turnpike and NYS Thruway Extension) From North: I-87 southbound (via Adirondack Northway)
From West: I-90 eastbound (via NYS Thruway Exit 24 or 23) From South: I-87 northbound (via NYS Thruway Exit 23 or 24) NOTE: I-87 travels north and south; I-90 travels east and west.
As such, I-87 is the NYS Thruway south of Albany and becomes the Adirondack Northway north of Exit 24. The NYS Thruway is I-90 west of Exit 24.
