Albany Union Station
Why it's listed
Albany Union Station is a granite railroad terminal on Broadway in downtown Albany, built between the fall of 1899 and December 1900. Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, successors to H.H. Richardson's firm, designed it, and Norcross Brothers carried out the construction using local workers. Two three-story sections flank a one-story waiting room that measures about 138 by 100 feet and rises 56 feet, with iron galleries, a polished granite wainscot and a mosaic floor. An iron canopy on cast iron columns shelters the entrance, which is topped by a large clock and the New York State seal. Stone globes and lions crown the corner piers. The station served the New York Central, Boston and Albany, and Delaware and Hudson railroads, handling 96 trains daily in 1900 and a record 121 during World War II. It also anchored a wider program of track elevation, a new bridge and street paving, and it remains a key element of the downtown skyline.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station was central to Albany's growth in the twentieth century. It was designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, successors to H.H. Richardson's firm, and was considered one of the most modern stations in the country. It drew industry and commerce, served several railroads and became a symbol of civic progress.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000516, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E side of Broadway between Columbia and Steuben Sts., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000516 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Designed by Sheply Rutan and Coolidge; built by Norcross Brothers; construction superintendent Mr. Wayland |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer used as a railroad terminal; condition marked fair and the building is listed as altered. Ownership is shown as the State of New York and the City of Albany. |
| Coordinates | 42.65141, -73.74948 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000516.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7886062
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.