Lectures & Walking Tours
Looking for a fun, engaging event for your group? Dive into Albany's rich 400 year-old history from the city's Dutch roots to historic haunts, with a virtual or in-person event! Discover Albany offers virtual or in-person lectures and private walking tours that will fascinate senior groups, neighborhood associations, students, clubs and more.
Click here for information on field trips and school group program offerings.
Pricing:
- Virtual Lectures, for groups of 10 or more: $50
- In-Person Lectures & Walking Tours:
- Weekdays: $75
- Weekends: $100
- Bus Tours: $100
- October Eerie Albany Tours: $100
Lectures typically run from 1 hour to 1.5 hours
If you are interested in booking a virtual lecture, please email info@albany.org.
Walking Tour & Virtual/In-Person Lecture Topics
Albany’s Dutch
The Albany Dutch are more than just tulips and wooden shoes! Echoes of Albany’s Dutch roots can be felt throughout the City, from our street names to our architectural gems. A Dutch Stroll is a guided walking tour within the original perimeter of Beverwyck. Learn how the tenacious Dutch adapted to the New World, formed relationships with the Native Americans and adjusted to English rule before the Revolution.
Backyard Literary Legends
Many literary legends have called Albany home, including William Kennedy and Gregory Maguire. But what other literary luminaries wandered the Capital streets? Did Herman Melville find inspiration for 'Moby Dick' in his own backyard? What's the connection between Vladimir Nabokov and the Albany Pine Bush? This and more will be revealed!
Eerie Albany
Join us as we unearth the capital city's storied past. Who is the ghostly figure who lingers past closing time at the historic Olde English Pub? What mysteries lie within the beautiful homes that line Ten Broeck Triangle? Can you explain the shadowy figures who roam the Capitol halls at night? Uncover this and more - if you DARE!
Politics and Prohibition
This interactive lecture or guided tour will dish out the juicy local gossip behind the secret speakeasies, the bootleggers who supplied them and the suspected politicians who perhaps had ulterior motives in keeping Albany a dry town. There may even be a dash of murder thrown into the mix.
Albany Amour
“Albany Amour” is a romantic storytelling experience where we share tales of the sweet, the scandalous, and the downright notorious partnerships throughout Albany’s history. Each story has its own flavor of drama, from the traditional courtship of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, the exceptional bravery of Stephen and Harriet Myers, the insidious murderous affair at Historic Cherry Hill, and the modern triumph in passing New York State’s Marriage Equality Act. This lecture is most popular at Valentine’s Day but can be offered year round!
Looking for more virtual lectures and tours offered by Albany County heritage sites and attractions? Contact us at info@albany.org for more information.
