The New York State Capitol

Open weekdays 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

A Monument to Democracy Welcome to the New York State Capitol

Sitting atop Albany’s State Street hill for more than a century, the activities of New York State government have taken place in this extraordinary building since the 1880s. A preeminent example of late nineteenth-century architecture, the Capitol was built by hand of solid masonry and designed to be a monument to democracy and a source of pride for all New Yorkers. Today, the New York State Capitol is a National Landmark poised to last for generations to come.

The Capitol’s architectural grandeur and historic significance serve to remind visitors of New York’s diversity and richness, making it a monument to the Empire State’s extraordinary legacy.

– Governor Kathy Hochul
 

Explore Capitol Highlights

 

Tours Offered Monday through Friday Discover New York's Past and Present on a Capitol Tour

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Exhibitions on View
Featuring New York State History & Culture
Ongoing
NYS Capitol Flag Room
The Flag Room
Explore the military battle flag collection at the New York State Capitol.
Current

A National Landmark Architecture & Government

The Building

Learn more about the Capitol's architecture and design and what it took to construct this nineteenth-century monument to government.

Constructing the Capitol
The Process

From bills to laws to budgets and more, learn about New York State Government and all that takes place within the Capitol's walls.

Civics at the Capitol
Capitol Stories
Hear from Experts About the Capitol's History, Grandeur, & Legends

Portrait of George Washington

The Office of General Services recently welcomed the return of the Portrait of George Washington to the New York State Capitol after a much-needed period of conservation by the Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center that will help George stay on display for another 113 years!

Treatment included: inpainting areas of loss, cleaning, and applying a new varnish to protect the painting's surface, and removing the wax lining and consolidating paint layers with a new adhesive.

Commissioned by the New York State Legislature in 1813, Ezra Ames’ 8-foot by 6-foot portrait of George Washington has been part of New York’s public art collection for more than two centuries. Ames, an acclaimed Albany portraitist who painted nearly 400 portraits in his lifetime, including many New York State legislators, based this piece on Gilbert Stuart’s famous, and widely, copied 1796 Lansdowne Portrait of Washington.

On view in the State Street Lobby of the New York State Capitol:
Portrait of George Washington
Ezra Ames (1768-1836)
Collection of the New York State Museum
George Washington Portrait

Portrait Carving Unveiling
Honoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

At the New York State Capitol

On August 21, 2023, New York State unveiled the permanent portrait carving of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Capitol’s Great Western Staircase. It’s the first new portrait added since the staircase’s completion in 1898. Justice Ginsburg, a Brooklyn native, is just the seventh woman depicted in the staircase gallery and the first person of Jewish descent.

Plan a visit to view the portrait carving: the New York State Capitol is open to the public Monday-Friday, with free public tours offered at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm.
About the Project
Portrait Carving of Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the New York State Capitol

More Information Contact Us to Plan a Visit

Contact us by phone: 518-474-2418
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Hours of Operation: Open weekdays 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

Security 

Visitors to the Capitol are required to pass through metal detectors and have bags scanned through an X-ray machine. Personal belongings such as backpacks and large bags should be left behind. Sharp objects, such as pocketknives, nail clippers, weapons, and nuisance devices such as whistles, and noisemakers are not allowed into the building. For more information, see Capitol Security Procedures & Prohibited Items.