Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza

Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza Official page for Visitor Information & Tours of the and ! Kathy Hochul, Governor, State of New York
Jeanette M.

The New York State Capitol has served as the seat of government for New York since the 1880’s. Over 125 years old, the building is a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur. Built by hand of solid masonry, it took 5 architects and 32 years to complete. Over the years meticulous restoration has been done to maintain and protect the Capitol for future generations of New Yorkers. Our tours

go beyond just the Capitol building, take a tour of the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza and the extensive modern art collection found in the Main Concourse and the Corning Tower. Or visit the Observation Deck on the 42nd floor of the Corning Tower, the tallest building in New York State outside of New York City. Or call in advance and book a tour of the New York State Executive Mansion. Moy, Acting Commissioner, Office of General Services

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Rebellion changed the course of LGBTQ+ history. In the decades since, New York State has...
06/04/2026

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Rebellion changed the course of LGBTQ+ history. In the decades since, New York State has remained committed to ensuring that LGBTQ+ New Yorkers have the fundamental right to live authentically, safely, and with dignity.

The 2026 Pride Month exhibition, Power & Policy, explores more than five decades of policy development and highlights the continued fight by LGBTQ+ communities for a more equitable New York.

Delve deeper into New York State’s + history in person or online: on.ny.gov/PrideExhibit2026

🏳️‍🌈 Power & Policy: 2026 Pride Month
📍 Governor’s Reception Room | New York State Capitol
🗓️ On view through June | Weekdays from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Capitol-ize on the longer summer evenings with a First Friday Tour! Join us this Friday for a look inside the New York S...
06/04/2026

Capitol-ize on the longer summer evenings with a First Friday Tour!

Join us this Friday for a look inside the New York State Capitol. As part of First Friday Albany — a citywide celebration of art, music, and special events. This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the Capitol’s remarkable architecture and history in a whole new light.

🕠 Tours depart from the State Street Lobby at 5:30 p.m.
🆓 This tour is free and open to the public.

Reservations are not required for individuals or parties of 10 or fewer. For more information, including details about group reservations, please visit: on.ny.gov/capitol

Even before violence erupted in what widely became known as the “Boston Massacre,” New Yorkers pushed back against Briti...
06/02/2026

Even before violence erupted in what widely became known as the “Boston Massacre,” New Yorkers pushed back against British soldiers stationed in New York City by raising “liberty poles” around the city. A confrontation between the two sides occurred on Golden Hill on January 19, 1770. While no victories were claimed, the Battle of Golden Hill illuminated the early tensions that sparked the American Revolution.

We invite you to explore America250 sites in New York and learn about Revolutionary battles, such as Golden Hill, by visiting the “Battlefields of Liberty: Revolutionary War Sites in New York” exhibition in person or online.

📍State Street Tunnel
🕒 Monday - Friday | 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
🔗 on.ny.gov/4tt0grT

Through film, fine arts, music, writing, dance, and much more, New York’s AAPI artists celebrate and represent their com...
05/28/2026

Through film, fine arts, music, writing, dance, and much more, New York’s AAPI artists celebrate and represent their communities and cultures, give visibility to their stories, and make significant contributions to New York’s creative industries.

Explore the work of many organizations, including the Asian American Arts Alliance, AHL Foundation, Inc., and the Pacific Island Film Festival of New York City, in our AAPI Heritage Month exhibit at the Governor’s Reception Room in the Capitol.

If you don’t make it to see "Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together” in person, visit online: on.ny.gov/PowerInUnity

Big brushstrokes. Big impact. Today, we’re remembering artist Franz Kline on his birthday, a leading figure in Abstract...
05/23/2026

Big brushstrokes. Big impact.

Today, we’re remembering artist Franz Kline on his birthday, a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism whose bold black-and-white paintings helped redefine modern art.

At first glance, “Charcoal, Black and Tan” may look quick or spontaneous, but every stroke was carefully considered. Kline often revised and reworked his paintings until they felt just right, creating movement and energy from simple shapes and dramatic contrasts.

You can find this striking piece at the base of the Corning Tower as part of the Empire State Plaza Art Collection. Stop by to see how a few bold brushstrokes can completely transform a space: empirestateplaza.ny.gov/art/franz-kline

Today, we’re reflecting on Richard Anuszkiewicz’s work on his birthday, a pioneer of op art whose work proves color can ...
05/23/2026

Today, we’re reflecting on Richard Anuszkiewicz’s work on his birthday, a pioneer of op art whose work proves color can play tricks on the eye. 👀

Short for optical art, op art is a style that uses colors, patterns, and lines to create eye-catching visual illusions. His piece “Grand Spectra,” part of the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, features vivid squares that seem to pulse, shift, and draw viewers inward, like a vortex. Using architectural tape to create precise patterns, Anuszkiewicz transformed simple shapes into a bold optical experience.

With its vibrant colors, hypnotic patterns, and illusion-like effects, “Grand Spectra” continues to stop visitors in their tracks . See if your eyes can keep up! empirestateplaza.ny.gov/art/richard-anuszkiewicz

You’ve probably heard of the Battle of Saratoga or the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga. You might not be as familiar with the ...
05/23/2026

You’ve probably heard of the Battle of Saratoga or the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga. You might not be as familiar with the Battle of Sag Harbor, which took place from May 23 to May 24, 1777, on Long Island.

We invite you to explore America250 sites in New York and learn about Revolutionary battles, such as the Battle of Sag Harbor, by visiting the “Battlefields of Liberty: Revolutionary War Sites in New York” exhibition in person or online.

📍State Street Tunnel
🕒 Monday - Friday | 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
🔗 on.ny.gov/4tt0grT

The “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together” exhibition highlights a selection of organizations dedicated to...
05/22/2026

The “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together” exhibition highlights a selection of organizations dedicated to supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals and families – including AWAKEmpowers, or the Asian Women’s Alliance for Kinship and Equality, the Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (KCS), and the Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association (MADA).

View the exhibit online or in person through May 29 at the New York State Capitol.

📍Governor’s Reception Room, 2nd Floor
️ 🗓️ Through May 29 | 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
🔗 on.ny.gov/PowerInUnity

Chrome, curves, and car parts. 🚘✨​Today, we’re remembering sculptor Jason Seley, whose bold, industrial-inspired artwork...
05/20/2026

Chrome, curves, and car parts. 🚘✨
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Today, we’re remembering sculptor Jason Seley, whose bold, industrial-inspired artwork helped redefine modern sculpture at the Empire State Plaza.
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Located inside the Corning Tower, Seley’s “Colleoni II” transforms salvaged automobile bumpers into a larger-than-life horse and rider, putting a sleek, 20th-century spin on the traditional equestrian statue. The reflective steel shifts with the light and surroundings, making the piece look different from every angle.
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Commissioned for the Empire State Plaza Art Collection during Governor Rockefeller’s era, the sculpture remains one of the collection’s most eye-catching works decades later.
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Stop by and see this shining work of art for yourself : on.ny.gov/seley

Our spring checklist: ✅ Stop & smell the roses ✅ Shop at the Plaza’s Visitor Center & Gift Shop! Bring in spring with a ...
05/20/2026

Our spring checklist:

✅ Stop & smell the roses

✅ Shop at the Plaza’s Visitor Center & Gift Shop!

Bring in spring with a visit to the Empire State Plaza Visitor Center & Gift Shop! The shop is blooming with flower-themed trinkets, candles, books, and more. 🐰🌼

Open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. or shop online at on.ny.gov/NYSCapitolStore

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100 South Mall Arterial
Albany, NY
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