Albany Institute

We lent this 1841 painting of an artist’s studio to the exhibition Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art that originated at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts & traveled to the Frist Art Museum. It was on the road for almost a year, returning to the museum last week.

Today we remember. In 1984, Marcia Clark painted this triptych from drawings she created looking down from the 104th floor of the World Trade Center. The birds-eye view of lower Manhattan shows the city that changed forever after 9/11.

It’s opening day! Stop by to see Reflective Impressions: The 19th National Exhibition of The American Society of Marine Artists featuring 113 works by artists from around the country.

We’re celebrating teachers. In 1955, 5th graders at Albany’s School 1 were greeted by teacher Mautress Smith. In 1961, she became asst. principal & later principal at Giffin School. She was a member of Albany Interracial Council, NAACP, & Albany League of Classroom Teachers.

On January 1, 1929, Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in as NY's 44th Governor. Join us September 10 at 2:00pm for a book talk with author Michael J. Burgess as he discusses his latest book, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Albany: Governing New York. Free with museum admission.

41 young women paused from their job in an Albany collar & shirt factory to pose for the photographer c.1910. In 1909, Troy & Albany had 22 collar @ cuff factories with a workforce of 2,204 men & 9,144 women. Women were making average wages of $395.48 a year ($11,395 today).

To learn about the Albany-Nijmegen sister-city relationship that began in 1947 visit the Tulips for Albany exhibition that runs through Sept. 10.

It's opening day at the Schaghticoke and Chatham fairs today! Strolling through the livestock barns, you might encounter a friendly bovine. Artist Will H. Low captured the strength and personality of this bull poking his head out of the stall c.1880.

It’s time for Monday night baseball again! Formed in the 1920s, the Black Sox were Albany’s best known African American team. In 1937, the Black Sox were invited to join Albany’s Twilight League. They won the league championship the same year and posed for this photo.

This post goes out to our four-legged friends with wagging tails who make our lives full ♥️ Happy, Happy National Dog Day! Sincerely, The Pups of the Albany Institute of History & Art's Collection #nationaldogday #doglover #dogsofinstagram #fromourcollection

In 1902, trainer/owner Alton McDonald commissioned this portrait of his trotter Queechy. In 1896, Queechy broke a Glens Falls track record at a meet of the Trotting Horse Breeders Assoc. From the 1890s to 1900 Queechy was listed in racing columns from Buffalo to Philadelphia.

This print shows the first encounter between the warships, the Confederate Merrimac & the Union Monitor on March 9, 1862. Ironclads were wooden hulled ships clad with iron plates. The Monitor’s machinery & iron plates were made by the Albany Ironworks and Rensselaer Ironworks.

How are you keeping your drinks cold this summer? In 1927, General Electric marketed a refrigerator with a compressor mounted on the top that resembled the gun turret on the Civil War iron-clad ship named the USS Monitor. It was America’s best-selling refrigerator - 1927 -1937.

We’re changing exhibitions so the museum is half price until September 9. Stop by to see exhibitions about Albany’s Tulip Festival, Hudson River School, Ancient Egypt, and Colonial Albany.

Enjoying concerts and events at the Empire State Plaza this summer? This is what it could have looked like. An “Arch of Freedom” that would have connected the state museum & library at the south end. The c. 1960-62 plan included a 1,500 seat amphitheater under the arch.

When the mercury soars into the 90s, you head to the pool. In 1959, these children splashed around the pool at Albany’s Swinburne Park. If you can identify any of the swimmers, let us know.

Looking for some summer fun as the season comes to a close?☀️🌴🍉 Join us for our final outdoor concert this Thursday from 5-7 for a Night at the Museum! 🎵 The concert and galleries will be open for free to the public, with a cash bar featuring a $5 signature cocktail.🥂

Stopping by the Poultry Barn at the Altamont Fair? Today is opening day. Bill Schade was known for his humorous caricatures of animals. This image depicts the essential characteristics of a chicken without being a realistic likeness and includes the artist’s annotations.

It's time for Monday Night Baseball! Generations of ballplayers around the country used softballs & baseballs made in Albany. In this 1961 photo Fred deBeer, Jr., grandson of the founder of DeBeer & Sons Baseball Manu. shows off baseballs made at 66 Orange St., Albany.