Albany, Albany County, New York, USA

Albany, New York’s capital, is a city on the west bank of the Hudson River. Its downtown developed from a Dutch settlement that became Beverwyck in 1652 and was renamed Albany under English rule in 1664. The city received its charter in 1686 and became the state’s permanent capital in 1797. Steamboats, the Erie Canal and early rail connections helped make it a transportation and trading center during the 19th century. Downtown retains commercial buildings in styles ranging from Greek Revival and Renaissance Revival to Beaux Arts and Art Deco.