A lovingly restored and maintained historic home, with a one-room school house, a large barn, and…read morelots of history to explore and learn.

Cute little historic complex, which I'll describe in detail below, that pays its way for the Town…read moreof Colonie as a reception hall specializing in weddings. I can't comment on the weddings but it looks like a very good value for a small wedding and a charming, spacious setting. The historic complex has three main "attractions". The first is the Pruyn House itself, an odd combination of a federal brick and greek revival mansion, built in the first third of the 19th century for Casparus Pruyn and family. Pruyn was the agent/collector for Stephen van Rensselaer III, the last Patroon of Rensselaerswyck, the feudal remnant of the Dutch empire in the US that lasted in its odd legal form until the middle of the 19th century. It is not the main site of business, but it does speak a bit to the social history around the Patroonship system. There are interpretive placards in each room, including one on the Anti-Rent Wars that broke up the Patroon system finally. Most of the rooms have period furnishings in them, although not a full restoration, and as such it's a nice illustration of 19th century elite living but not exactly a full recreation. The upper floors have rooms that double as offices for the curators, so there are also modernized touches around. Even so, it's a moderately interesting look. There's not a lot of interpretation but enough to figure things out. Outside the main house is a lovely flower garden, and two more buildings. One is the Buhrmaster Barn, an early 19th century barn that was moved from a position close to the Mohawk River, and the old Verdoy school, which was moved from its location near Route 7 in 1995. The barn is used for receptions and programs, and has some very interesting intact woodwork but is, well, you know, a barn used for wedding receptions. It's nicer than a real barn but not as interesting. The Verdoy school house, though, is one of the best intact one-room school houses in the area, and they have a few desks and some props (I can't call them artifacts) left out, which I am guessing are used for school groups to come in, with some modern seating. It's worth a peek inside - the kids enjoyed playing school for a few minutes - but it's not a complete re-creation either. It's all free (donations accepted) and despite the relative lack of interpretation it should be of interest to those interested in local history, old houses, or just a pleasant walk around some grounds. There are picnic tables and a big open space in the rear, and I don't know if they care if you come and use it as a picnic spot, but I would recommend it as such if you're looking for one in the area and want to spice up your stop with a little history.

Finding this beauty made my entire weekend. Ah, just to sit and breathe it in. Thank you, Yelp…read morefriends, for pointing the way. If you are near Troy definitely worth finding.

You learn about the Falls in junior high if you grew up in Troy, Watervliet, Cohoes, Lansingburgh…read moreaka 'the burgh'...or in other words are a local. Its a nice bit of 'wilderness' in the city. I guess the police/rescue squad get about 5-10 calls every spring-early fall to get some idiot that overestimated their free climbing prowess, got in a hairy spot, and (best case) froze and needed help back down. Worst case they fall, get injured and need to be carried out. Back in the day when I was still a young woman I did enjoy hiking in with some friends and finding a quiet spot near the falls to enjoy the natural vibes with the help of some good quality bud. , Haven't been up to the falls in years but I imagine not much has changed. Note/another reviewer questioned why the city doesn't keep it up better as it is a nice spot. I think the land is privately owned not city property.

Historical district was everything that I hoped, for I was on an Ancestry hunt of my ancestors and…read morefound out so much information about my native American Heritage. The stockade historical district society was a big help in my search for my Native American roots. The historical society staff were warm and friendly and so very gracious. I felt like the TV show who do you think you are?

Better than Dallas we must say. Great to walk the town and feel western. Great little shops as well…read morewith all types of cool trinkets. Kids enjoyed the maze, got to see a rodeo it was an awesome time!

We visited here twice when we were in Albany this Fall. On our first visit, we toured the grounds,…read morewhich are beautiful, and learned some cool facts from the interpretive signs. On the second visit, we checked out the holiday craft market featuring over 90 vendors including purveyors of mushrooms, coffee, cheeses and tons of hand made table linens and crafts. Some great finds here included mushroom seasoning, ginger jams, and some rare treats from their heavily discounted "attic" section which was super fun to browse. I picked up two cool, old style cookbooks from here for just a couple dollars.

Well despite coming here to Albany for such a short time out of disappointment in regards to my…read morefamily who never told me that they wanted to stay here shortly I had left them alone and went my own way to this Shaker heritage community unfortunately they are closed on Monday and Tuesday and originally I was supposed to go to Cleveland for at least going to the arboretum down there in Cleveland no they want to go over here and stores are closed anyways this looks like a good place to check out I would come back here again but without my family since I like the quaintness of state capital Albany in upstate New York other than that not much I could say I like how they have this rare cow that they raise here that's almost extinct chickens and how they educate you about the Shakers since they don't live a life of producing but rather of the celibate life in Christianity from the days of George Washington and the American revolution. That is what I learned about this place unfortunately I couldn't go to the museum because it was closed on Monday

This house is where the pre-treasonous Benedict Arnold recuperated after being wounded at the…read moreBattle of Bemis Heights. The house is an interesting landmark for what it represents historically. It is not open to the Public.

What a gem! We visited the area from San Diego and a friend suggested to stop over at the Grant…read moreCottage. This is a great move for any history buff. The home is in the original condition the way President Grant and his family would have experienced it, meticulously maintained by a knowledgeable staff and volunteers. I had a great time and learned a lot. Highly recommend!

My visit to Grant's Cottage was amazing. I learned so much about his last days and how he provided…read morefor his family. The staff and tour guide here are all very informative and friendly. The grounds are well kept and the cottage itself is well preserved. I have no words to describe the breathtaking outdoor overlook. It is not to be missed. Everything within Grant's Cottage is well maintained and you truly feel as if you are brought back to the 1800's. You will enjoy the tour whether you are a history buff or just looking to gain knowledge about President Grant. I highly recommend!!

Been to 2 locations on upper union st. Have visited each eatery multiple times and will continue to…read moredo so into the future. Homestyle caterers has amazing pizza (top 5 all time in my book), delicious rollatini, salads and other items.... they have gelato too!! Gershans delicatessen is also amazing. Beautiful sandwiches, meats, pickles and salads. Both places are extremely clean and have very friendly owners and employees. Bot are family owned also!

From the owner: Traditional shopping districtread more

Another find, thanks to Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/troy-gasholder-building…read moreThere's not much like this fabulous building but it is definitely not open to the public. There was a gent there today when we stopped by and he opened the main gates for us so that we could get pictures. The building itself is closed and secured. If you stop by after hours and the gate is locked, you can still get a good view. So, what's this about? The Troy Gasholder Building dates back to when coal gas was manufactured and it needed to be stored so that it could be used later to light streets and homes. The building has a brick structure and the tank inside (not there, as far as I know) was 100 feet in diameter and 22 feet high, which would store 330,000 cubic feet of gas. Today, it's next to a repair yard and in the middle of a neighborhood of brownstone looking homes. There is some street parking. [Review 11508 overall, 1288 of 2019.]

The Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, NY is one of those places that quietly draws you in with how much…read morehistory it holds. At first glance, it looks like a simple old church, but once you step inside, you realize you're standing somewhere that has witnessed more than 200 years of stories. Built in the 1770s as a German Reformed Church, it was later fortified and turned into a defensive stronghold during the Revolutionary War. You can still spot a cannonball hole in the wall a little visual reminder of how real that history was. The museum complex is spread out beautifully, with several old buildings and scenic grounds that make it easy to wander around at your own pace. Each building feels like a glimpse into a different part of Schoharie's past from farming and school life to vintage machinery and military history. The volunteers here really add to the experience they're kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history they're sharing. It's the kind of museum that doesn't feel overly polished, but that's exactly what makes it charming. You can sense the age of the wood floors and the craftsmanship in every display. It's quiet, peaceful, and even a little haunting in the best way, especially if you walk through the small cemetery nearby. If you enjoy exploring local history or hidden gems off the main tourist path, the Old Stone Fort is definitely worth a visit. It doesn't take long to go through, but you'll likely leave thinking about how much life and resilience are preserved in those old stone walls.

Wow, what a huge historical museum and tribute to our nations history. Definitely stop and spend…read moretime in this town. The whole story of the troops holding off the British soldiers from that place is amazing. The cemetery is amazing too. You can almost feel the soldiers running up and down the stairs and outside. Loved the cannon balls and to see the hole is pretty neat. I loved the whole area and town has historical homes all along the roadside. Nice shops too!

Built in 1769 is a small church, now designated a national historic landmark. Just off the NY…read moreState Thruway, on Rt 5, is this one room white church. There's a cemetery in the back. Mostly old but a few newer headstones as well. A few simple graves market with crosses are in the woods. Looks like this building is maintained and perhaps even in use as a church. There are things inside, which can be seen through the windows.