Harmanus Bleecker Library
Why it's listed
Completed in 1924 at 161 Washington Avenue in Albany, this two-story brick library follows the Classical Revival style. It has cast stone trim, a balustraded roofline, keyed round-arched openings, engaged pilasters and a projecting, elaborate entrance bay on Dove Street. Inside, oak trim, marble wall cladding, terrazzo floors and a mezzanine floor of translucent glass panels survive. Albert W. Fuller and William Robinson designed it. Funds came from the estate of Harmanus Bleecker, a lawyer, congressman and minister to the Netherlands who left his property to benefit Albany. The Young Men's Association sold its earlier Bleecker Hall to pay for a building devoted only to library use, and in December 1924 it presented the library to the city, marking the start of the Albany Public Library System. It was among the last works of Fuller, whose practice in Albany spanned more than fifty years. The building is regarded as a local landmark of public education and civic architecture.
Significance in brief: It was the first building in the Albany Public Library System used exclusively as a library. It is also an outstanding local example of Classical Revival architecture and a reminder of Harmanus Bleecker's philanthropy, since it was built with funds from his estate through the Young Men's Association.
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 96000559, listed May 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 161 Washington Ave., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | May 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000559 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-24 |
| Architect / builder | Albert Fuller, William Robinson |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals / Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; the historic function was library and the most recent function was a specialty store. Interior spaces and finishes are largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.55638, -73.76354 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 96000559.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5659058
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.