Albany Institute of History & Art facts for kids

Albany Institute of History & Art

South elevation and east profile of Rice Building; south profile of entrance building and main building, 2011
Established	1791 (1791)
Location	125 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York

The Albany Institute of History & Art (AIHA) is a museum in Albany, New York, United States. It is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history, art, and culture of Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley region. You can find it on Washington Avenue in downtown Albany. Founded in 1791, it is one of the oldest museums in the United States.

Over time, several other groups joined together to create today's Albany Institute. It started as a "learned society," which is a group of experts who study and share knowledge. For a while, it even advised the state government on farming. Robert R. Livingston was its first president. The famous scientist Joseph Henry shared his first paper on electromagnetism here. The museum's collections of plants, animals, and rocks helped start the New York State Museum. Later, the Institute began to focus more on art and history. It got its current name in 1926. Today, it is known as an important regional art museum.

The museum has three buildings. One is the old Rice Building from the late 1800s. It was designed by Richard Morris Hunt. The main building was built in the 1920s by local architect Marcus T. Reynolds. A modern glass building connects the two older ones. The original two buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In the early 2000s, the museum was updated. A new entrance building was built, and special storage was added for the collections.

Exploring the Museum Buildings

The Albany Institute is located on a large property between Washington and Elk Streets. It is surrounded by other historic buildings. Many of these buildings are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For example, the University Club of Albany is across the street. The old Harmanus Bleecker Library is also nearby.

A short walk away is the large New York State Department of Education Building. You can also see the park behind the New York State Capitol, which is a very important historic site. The Alfred E. Smith State Office Building is also close by. To the west, you'll find the Washington Avenue Armory.

The Rice Building is on the corner of Washington and Dove Streets. It has a small lawn with trees and a modern sculpture. A low fence separates the museum from Washington Avenue. The main entrance has tall stone pillars and a modern steel and glass roof. A modern glass and stone walkway connects the Rice Building to the main museum building.

Main building seen from opposite side

The main building is a two-story brick structure. It has decorative stone corners and a stone band around the middle. The roof is sloped and covered in green metal. A flat tower rises from the center of the roof. On the south side, the main entrance is in a round section that sticks out. Inside, a large hallway leads to exhibit halls. Double staircases go up to the second floor.

The Rice Building has golden brick walls and a flat roof. A smaller wing extends from the north side. The east side has a porch with a railing, which is now the main entrance. The original entrance on the other side has been closed off.

The first floor has large, arched windows with decorative iron railings. The second floor has double windows. Above these, smaller windows are found in the attic area. The roof has a fancy decorative edge with carvings.

Inside the Rice Building, many original features are still there. These include rooms with decorative wall art and carved wooden fireplaces. The library has built-in bookshelves. A staircase with an iron railing leads to the third floor. The marble in the bathroom is also original.

A Look Back: The Museum's History

The Albany Institute started as a group that advised the state on farming. Over time, it grew into a regional art museum. It faced challenges twice in the 1800s but was saved by changing its focus. In the late 1900s, it found its permanent purpose and home.

Robert R. Livingston, the institute's first president

1791–1823: Society for Useful Arts

The first group that led to today's museum was called the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures. It started in New York City in 1791. This group was like an informal advisor to the state government. They helped improve New York's economy, especially farming, and made life better for people. Many of the 72 founders were involved in the government. Robert R. Livingston, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was the first president. Other important early members included John Jay and George Clinton.

When Albany became the state capital in 1796, the Society moved there. In 1804, it changed its name to the Society for the Promotion of the Useful Arts. Livingston remained president. Ten years later, it created a Fine Arts Committee. This committee asked artist Ezra Ames to paint a portrait of Livingston, who had passed away. This painting was the museum's first art piece.

In 1819, New York created a government agency for agriculture. The state no longer needed the Society's advice and stopped funding it. Many of the founders were older or had died, so the Society became less active.

1823–1850: The Albany Institute

The museum was brought back to life in 1823. It merged with the Albany Lyceum of Natural History. This new group focused on natural sciences like geology and mineralogy. They collected and preserved rocks and plants found during state surveys.

The combined group became known as the Albany Institute. It had over a hundred members. In 1829, Joseph Henry, who worked at the Institute, gave his first important paper on electromagnetism. He later made big discoveries in this field. By the next year, the Institute's libraries nearly doubled in size. This happened when Governor DeWitt Clinton left most of his books to the museum in his will.

Henry left in 1832 to teach at Princeton. Later, he became the first leader of the Smithsonian Institution. His leaving did not immediately hurt the Albany Institute. However, attendance at meetings later dropped. This was partly because one of its scientists, Matthew Henry Webster, presented too many papers on weather surveys.

Financial problems in 1837 also limited the Institute's work. During this time, it kept collecting scientific items. It gathered over 15,000 specimens. These collections helped lead to the creation of the New York State Museum.

The death of Stephen Van Rensselaer in 1839 was another challenge. Also, new colleges like Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute started doing similar work. Because of these reasons, the Institute was not very active in the 1840s.

John V.L. Pruyn, who helped revive the Institute in the mid-1800s

1851–1899: Albany Historical and Art Society

The Institute was revived again in 1851. This happened when a national science group held a meeting in Albany. New members joined, and the organization became interested in many areas, not just science. John V. L. Pruyn, a Congressman, became president in 1857. He changed the focus to be more for the public. In 1867, the Institute gave its science collections to the state.

In 1886, Albany celebrated its 200th birthday. An exhibit of historical items and art was held. After this, the Albany Historical and Art Society (AHAS) was created. Its goal was to care for these collections and find a permanent home for them. It had almost 1,200 members.

By 1897, AHAS had enough money to buy a building. The next year, it took over the collection of the Albany Gallery of Fine Art. This gallery had opened in 1846 but closed within ten years.

1900–1947: Albany Institute of History & Art

In 1900, the AHAS and the Albany Institute merged. They became the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society. Four years later, they bought the land where the main building now stands. The building was finished in 1908. The mayor called it "the capstone of educational development in our city." Its first exhibit in 1909 celebrated Henry Hudson's exploration of the Hudson River and Robert Fulton's first steamboat trip.

Poster for 1938 exhibition of contemporary regional artists sponsored by Federal Art Project

To make more room for exhibits, the institute gave some of its books to the new Harmanus Bleecker Library in 1924. Its newspaper and pamphlet collections went to the state museum. Two years later, it shortened its name to the "Albany Institute of History & Art." This was part of an effort to make the collections more open to the public. Programs like tours and school trips helped the institute become a regional museum. It also started the Print Club of Albany, bringing famous printmakers to the city.

As World War II began, John Davis Hatch became the museum's director. He started a series of exhibits featuring important regional artists. One exhibit on Thomas Cole was the first major show of his work in the 1900s. In 1945, an exhibit called "The Negro Artist Comes of Age" showed the work of 45 African American artists. It gained national attention. Hatch also began updating the museum's records to match other museums.

1948–present: A Regional Art Museum

Robert Wheeler took over as director in 1948. He decided that new art pieces should be from the region or have a connection to it. He created special exhibits for regional art and updated the galleries.

In 1956, Janet McFarlane became director. She was one of only seven women museum directors in the U.S. at the time. Five years later, the museum's Women's Council was founded. This group now helps raise money and provides volunteers. In 1968, the Rice family donated their old house to the museum. This Beaux-Arts home was designed by Richard Morris Hunt, who also designed parts of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum renovated the house to use as offices and gallery space. As director, Norman Rice helped the museum acquire over a million items before he left in 1986.

Christine Miles became director next. She started the first Museum Ball and Contemporary Art Auction. This helped raise money for new art. The museum's collection of modern art more than doubled. The museum also began a project to better organize its collections. This made them easier for researchers and the public to use. In 1990, the "City Neighbors" project created an exhibit about the black experience in Albany.

The museum buildings needed to be updated. In 1994, a local architect was hired for the work. The museum raised over $12 million for the project. Sculptor George Rickey donated one of his works, Etoile Variation V, for the entrance. The museum closed in 1999 for renovations and reopened in 2001.

Museum Collection

Thomas Cole's Romantic Landscape With Ruined Tower, part of the Institute's collection of Hudson River School art.

The Albany Institute has over 20,000 objects in its permanent collections. This includes 1600 paintings, 1100 drawings, and 4000 prints. There are also 600 sculptures, 500 pieces of furniture, and 1200 ceramics. The museum has 4000 pieces of clothing and accessories, and 5450 other historical items. Its library has 140,000 books and 85,000 photographs. The museum also hosts many traveling exhibits each year.

Gallery

Permanent Exhibits

The museum's main exhibits are on two floors of its original building.

• The Landscape That Defined America: The Hudson River School: This exhibit features paintings by Frederic Church, Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, and other artists from the Hudson River School.
• Sense of Place: 18th and 19th Century Paintings and Sculpture: This exhibit includes important portraits by Ezra Ames and Ralph Earl. It also has genre paintings by Walter Launt Palmer and John Thomas Peele.
• 19th Century American Sculpture: This exhibit shows 20 works by Erastus Dow Palmer, Launt Thompson, and Charles Calverley.
• Ancient Egypt: This exhibit features the museum's two mummies and other artifacts from Ancient Egypt.
• Traders and Culture: Colonial Albany and the Formation of American Identity: This exhibit explores the city of Albany in the 1600s and 1700s.
• Entry Point Gallery: When you first enter the museum, you'll see this gallery. It displays a selection of the museum's newest items.

Hours and Fees

The Albany Institute of History & Art is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Sunday, it is open from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission costs $10.00 for adults. It is $8.00 for senior citizens and students. For children aged six to twelve, it costs $6.00. Kids under five get in for free. The library is open on Thursdays from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. The museum has a parking lot behind the building.

See Also

• List of museums in New York
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany, New York
• George Rogers Howell, secretary