Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation)
About this property
The Downtown Albany Historic District is a 19-block, 66.6-acre (27.0 ha) area of Albany, New York, United States, centered on the junction of State (New York State Route 5) and North and South Pearl streets (New York State Route 32). It is the oldest settled area of the city, originally planned and settled in the 17th century, and the nucleus of its later development and expansion. In 1980 it was designated a historic district by the city and then listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its 164 buildings are a mix of tall commercial buildings on the main streets and small houses on the side. Most were built between 1880 and 1930, the district's period of significance, with some dating to the 1810s. All major streets have a major building as their focal point. Several contributing properties have been listed on the Register in their own right, and one designated a National Historic Landmark. Albany's earliest skyscrapers were built here, including one that was the city's tallest at the time of its completion. The current mix of buildings reflects the city's peak of industrial prosperity in the Gilded Age, with many built by banks, as well as the city's status as New York's state capital. It has been displaced in the city's skyline by later construction, particularly by the Empire State Plaza, the modernist home of New York's state government. Urban renewal programs of the late 20th century largely bypassed the district for political reasons. As a result, its historic buildings are mostly intact, although some have been compromised through neglect. In 2022 the state proposed some changes that would add some more modern buildings as contributing properties. The amended boundaries were accepted that May.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation) listed on the National Register?
Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 31, 1980.
What type of historic resource is Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation)?
Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation) is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation)?
The period of significance for Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation) is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation)?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Downtown Albany Historic District (Additional Documentation) will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.