State Education Building tours
The State Education Building is a century old this year, and to celebrate the department is hosting a series of open houses and tours at the grand building across the street from the Capitol.
The Education Building's exterior, with that huge colonnade, is impressive. But the interior is also very beautiful. And these tours are a rare chance for the general public to get a look at it.
Here's a recent New York Now segment about the building. It give you a sense of the grandeur of the interior.
Tours start October 19 (the last tour is November 15). There's a sign-up form online. The open houses on October 19, 20, and 21.
(Thanks, Carl!)
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Comments
Will you need to pass a state bubble test to take the tour? Maybe a test after the tour to see if you were paying attention!
... said upstater on Oct 1, 2012 at 6:39 PM | link
If you've never been in this building, you owe it to yourself to see the inside. This is easily one of the most beautiful buildings within the city. The Will Low murals are incredible and so is the rotunda. The state museum must have been a far more wonderous place before it moved to the sterile cultural education building.
... said td on Oct 2, 2012 at 10:10 AM | link
I haven't been inside this building since I was little. The Museum was already gone, but I remember seeing some links from the Great Chain at West Point and a large bell; someone said it was a replica of the Liberty Bell, but I won't swear to that.
I wish the Museum were still in this building. I'm a huge fan of the Museum, but at the same, I really don't like its current setting.
... said Paula on Oct 2, 2012 at 10:32 AM | link
Any idea on the length of tour? Would be good to let my supervisor know jsut how long of a long lunch I'd like to take. Thanks!
... said Graceful J on Oct 2, 2012 at 11:48 AM | link
@Paula -- the links from the Great Chain that was stretched across the Hudson River at West Point in 1778 are now displayed in the Capitol. I saw them the other day when I was crossing through the building.
... said chrisck on Oct 2, 2012 at 12:54 PM | link
td: The old State Museum was a wondrous place. It lost a lot in the move.
... said Miss Blankenship on Oct 2, 2012 at 1:00 PM | link
@td, thank you for mentioning Will Low. The Albany Institute of History and Art owns this gorgeous piece 'The Terrace Walls'.
http://ow.ly/eaCa2
Can't wait to see his murals in the Education Bldg...
... said capgirl on Oct 2, 2012 at 6:12 PM | link
@Paula,
Yes, there is a replica of the Liberty Bell in the building. It's on the second floor at the top of the staircase to your right as you enter the building.
... said Greg on Oct 3, 2012 at 8:01 PM | link
I took the tour Friday afternoon. Here are some pictures I took during the tour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26202294@N02/sets/72157631811206151/
... said Graceful J on Oct 20, 2012 at 10:17 PM | link