What Is The Oldest Street in Albany, New York?

Living in the Capital Region has a lot of advantages. We're a very close proximity to a few major cities on the east coast and we've also got an airport that we can get to fairly easily. It allows us to be able to travel around and experience an awful lot. Before you venture too far, have you explored your own history?

Last week I learned from my friend Cara Macri of the Historic Albany Foundation that the Capital Region is actually home to the fourth oldest city in the nation. That would be Albany, NY. We were originally settled in 1614 as a Dutch trading post and at a later time turned into a Colonial settlement of the British. That's 400 years of history and there's a decent chance you've actually traveled down a road that's been around since at least 1695.

State Street - Dating back to 1695

A view of historic State Street in Downtown Albany via Google Maps

State Street is one of the oldest roads in Albany and was originally called Jonkers Street. It is part of Downtown Albany's Historic District. While much of it looks different than when the Dutch first settled it, the main structure remains the same.

The downtown Albany of today began as a small Dutch village and then an English one, which did not begin significant growth until the early 19th century developing into the city’s center for commerce.

Broadway

A views of Broadway in Downtown Albany via Google Maps

Another one of Albany's oldest streets is Broadway. This shouldn't come as a shock as it is shared with State Street. Broadway runs right along 787 and is parallel to the Hudson River. A lot of industry would take place along it and it was not always called Broadway. It was also called Handalaers Street.

The intersection of Broadway and State is where the old Dutch Church sat until 1806. While the city grew, a lot of it was updated and we lost some of that history in the process. State and Broadway was also home to one of the old burying places in the City. No, there still aren't bodies there. They were moved to Albany Rural Cemetery where they will be at peace.

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