If architecture is your passion, the Capital Saratoga Region is where you want to be.

Albany County
From one vantage point in Albany’s historic downtown visitors can span centuries of development and a myriad of fine architectural styles. A walk around the NYS Capitol building reveals the richness of our landscape. The NYS Capitol is an excellent example of French renaissance style and excess. Its million-dollar staircase and other interior spaces have been restored to their original elegance. Look north from the Capitol to Academy Park to view the old Albany Academy, a classic Federal style building designed by Philip Hooker. Right next door is Albany City Hall a wonderful Romanesque revival building designed by H.H. Richardson. Just to the south of the Capitol is the futuristic Empire State Plaza with its multiple towers and The Egg, the elliptical shape that is home to two performing arts theaters. Just west of the Capitol is the NYS Education building with the longest colonnade in America. Continuing your look west, the Alfred E. Smith office building is a wonderful example of Art Deco style. Looking east from the Capitol towards the Hudson River, visitors can view architectural styles ranging from the early 1800’s through the 21st century. At the base of State St. is State University Plaza, designed by local architect Marcus Reynolds. The elaborate structure was designed to "hide" the industrial waterfront and was patterned after Cloth Hall in Yerpes, Belgium. 

 
Fulton County
Stroll through the streets of Fulton County’s quaint villages and cities for colorful Victorian and Colonial style architecture. Take yourself back to the early days of our country’s heritage when trolleys traveled through town, and women wore skirts that swept the streets. Many structures are still here and operating today including banks, old theaters and the courthouse (oldest active courthouse in the United States), historic homes dating prior to the American Revolution; including the baronial home Sir William Johnson. Fulton County is also home to women’s rights revolutionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the early 19th Century Home that she and Susan B. Anthony wrote Volume IV of The History of Woman Suffrage. Restored and brand new railroad depot designs, Colonial and Victorian restorations, and historic preservation, are alive today reminding us of our rich history. 

 
Rensselaer County
The two things that contribute most to the City of Troy's unique Victorian charm are the fact that the City was one of the richest in America in the late 19th century, and these folks took pride in building out their city. Second, the heart of the city escaped the wrecking ball in the 'urban renewal craze of the sixties/seventies. This lucky combination of factors leaves to the visitor a vivid cityscape dating from another time In the City of Troy there are more Tiffany windows per square mile than you'll see anywhere else in the world. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, built in 1875 and on the Register, is world famous among artists and music devotees for almost perfect acoustics. The real beauty of Troy is the combination of functional architecture that has continued to be serviceable even while the world has changed enormously. Buildings such as the Rensselaer County Courthouse, the Hart Library, the Hart-Cluett House (1827) one of the finest examples of American Federal architecture in the nation, have all been transformed over the years to provide state of the art usefulness. The new campus of Emma Willard School (first women's school for secondary education in the country) built in 1916-1918 is a baronial fantasy of granite towers, fly-away gargoyles, all laid out on an eastside hill above the City of Troy. St.Paul's Episcopal Church in Troy was extensively renovated around the turn of the century by the Tiffany Company and like the fabled phoenix changed from a stodgy New England interior into an adaptive copy of the Cathedral of Palermo Sicily! The beautiful Rensselaer countryside, so beloved by Grandma Moses, also has many examples of American rural architecture such as the charming covered bridge in Buskirk.

Saratoga County
The historic structures of Saratoga Springs are the tangible remains of the city’s past as a racy resort. Take a stroll along the streets and alleyways and discover the many wonders of the fabled city. Stop first at the Heritage Area Visitors Center across from Congress Park on Broadway. Get an orientation of the city and pick up walking tour maps. There are five loops you can walk that take between 30 minutes and an hour: Broadway, North Broadway, East Side, West Side and Springs. Each will give you a flavor of Saratoga Springs historic architecture. After departing Saratoga Springs, head south on the Adirondack Northway to Exit 11. Turn east and head towards the Village of Round Lake, where you can see wonderful examples of residential Victorian architecture near the center of the village. While you are there, take a look at the unique Round Lake Auditorium, listed on the National Register. The structure houses the 1847 Ferris Tracker pipe organ.

Schenectady County
New York States oldest historic district, The Stockade is located on the Erie Canal in downtown Schenectady. Today, a stroll through the neighborhood will reveal stone steps and high Dutch gables, Colonial doorways, half-hidden gardens and architectural elements on homes built between 1690 and 1920. You’ll see a diversity of architectural styles including Dutch, Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic and Victorian. A short drive from the district on Union Street will bring you to the first architecturally designed campus in America. A tour of Union College Campus delights the eye, and its emphasis on the arch as an architectural element is ready apparent. Be sure to see the 16 sided Nott Memorial, a National Historic Landmark and prime example of High Victorian Gothic architecture.

Washington County
Many places in Washington County are virtually unchanged and the builders of yesterday and visitors can experience intact 18th & 19th century architecture. Tiffany left his mark at St. Lukes Episcipal Church in Cambridge – 16 Tffiany windows, stenciling, wood work and fabric. The Skene Manor in Whitehall is known as the “Castle on the Hill” made of stone from the region. Each Village tells the story of its founders through the materials used to build, the styles they imported and embraced. Click on the link to National Historic Places http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Washington/state.html to learn about the significant buildings in Washington County