Albanyempire state capital

The seat of New York State government since the 1880s, this impressive building—a marvel of late 19th-century architectural grandeur—was built by hand and took more than three decades, five architects and $25 million to complete. Constructed of solid granite masonry, its grandest features are the opulent chambers, mosaic tiled corridors and the Great Western Staircase, which boasts elaborate stonework containing more than 1,000 carved faces (including those of Andrew Jackson and Henry Hudson). The 45-minute tour is definitely worth the time, but also don’t miss the Empire State Plaza concourse, a subterranean gate between the New York State Museum and the Corning Tower with a spectacular collection of 92 pieces of mid-20th-century pop art, including works by Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Louise Nevelson and Franz Kline.