Historic Albany Foundation has three main focus areas - preservation advocacy, education, and technical assistance.

Preservation Advocacy

The advocacy work that Historic Albany does focuses on keeping our built environment, streetscapes, communities, and architecture that keeps Albany’s 400+ year history alive.

We work to create new National Register-listed historic districts to increase eligibility for the New York State and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and to facilitate the rehabilitation of Albany’s vacant historic buildings (both big and small).
We raise public awareness for some of Albany’s most iconic yet endangered buildings. We issue an Endangered Historic Resources list every five years. which guides the organization’s advocacy efforts. Click here to view the most recent list. We also have our Dirty Dozen list.
Historic Albany also champions best practice's for rehabilitation and celebrates excellence in preservation through our Preservation Merit Awards. Click here to view our PMA awards page.

Education

Historic Albany prides itself on a full calendar of educational programs to tickle everyone’s fancy, from walking tours of Capitol Hill to pub lectures on Albany’s early architecture & DIY workshops. Though the topics change seasonally, Historic Albany’s annual calendar of programs often include:

Walkabout Wednesday Walking Tour Series (Third Wednesday May-September at 5:30) features a historic neighborhood or corridor. Past Walkabouts include Center Square, Mansion, Ten Broeck Triangle neighborhoods, Capitol Hill, the Warehouse District, Delaware Avenue, Manning Boulevard, the Spanish Style homes of Winchester Gables and Rosemont Street, Washington Avenue, the Holland Avenue Tudors, and more.
Throwback Thursday Walking Tour Series (July & August) features very popular, often sold out tours from the previous year for those who missed them.
Members Only Tours give our members a chance to explore some of the city’s finest buildings that are not often open to the public.
Lectures are offered on architectural history, Albany history, iconic buildings, Albany architects and builders, current preservation projects in the Capital Region and more at a variety of historic locations and watering holes throughout the city.
First Fridays @ 48 Hudson (First Friday evening March-October) features a tour of the oldest building in Albany that we’re currently restoring to become the new home of HAF.
Restoration Faire (May) features tablers, demonstrations, and a panel discussion on resources to buy and maintain old houses.
Tool Library Workshops (typically one per month, most months) gives the public the opportunity to learn skills like window repair, painting, lamp rewiring, kid-friendly projects like bug hotels, etc.
Repair Cafes gives the public a chance to bring in household items that need repaired. We have experts available to repair and educate.

Click here to view our current calendar of events.

Technical Assistance

Property owners interested in restoring or rehabilitating residential or commercial buildings can receive such technical assistance as how to stabilize a structure, or which paint color to select that is both historically significant and harmonious with the existing streetscape.

As an information clearinghouse, Historic Albany Foundation has the knowledge and experience to recommend reputable craftsmen for specialized work, as well as information on exterior restoration. Our ‘Preservation Friendly Contractor List’ is a benefit of membership.
We hold regular workshops focused on useful preservation skills, including hands-on window repair, informative sessions on architectural styles, and solutions to old house problems.
Historic Albany Foundation can advise property owners on grants for restorative work and provides information on local, state, and federal grants for preservation and restoration of local historic structures.
Technical Services staff can conduct home site visits on appointment to provide an assessment of the property and offer technical advice on best practices for preserving historic buildings.
In cases where there is no alternative to demolition, Historic Albany Foundation salvages reusable building parts that would otherwise be lost. The Architectural Parts Warehouse is the oldest continuously operating not-for-profit architectural salvage business in the country, with 10,000 square feet filled with everything from bath tubs to door knobs, mantles to stained glass - all at affordable prices. Contact the Warehouse Manager for information at 518-465-2987 or click here to learn more.

What We Do

Saving Albany’s stories one brick at a time

Historic Albany Foundation has three main focus areas - preservation advocacy, education, and technical assistance.

Preservation Advocacy

The advocacy work that Historic Albany does focuses on keeping our built environment, streetscapes, communities, and architecture that keeps Albany’s 400+ year history alive.

We work to create new National Register-listed historic districts to increase eligibility for the New York State and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and to facilitate the rehabilitation of Albany’s vacant historic buildings (both big and small).

We raise public awareness for some of Albany’s most iconic yet endangered buildings. We issue an Endangered Historic Resources list every five years. which guides the organization’s advocacy efforts. Click here to view the most recent list. We also have our Dirty Dozen list.

Historic Albany also champions best practice's for rehabilitation and celebrates excellence in preservation through our Preservation Merit Awards. Click here to view our PMA awards page.

Education

Throwback Thursday Walking Tour Series (July & August) features very popular, often sold out tours from the previous year for those who missed them.

Members Only Tours give our members a chance to explore some of the city’s finest buildings that are not often open to the public.

Lectures are offered on architectural history, Albany history, iconic buildings, Albany architects and builders, current preservation projects in the Capital Region and more at a variety of historic locations and watering holes throughout the city.

First Fridays @ 48 Hudson (First Friday evening March-October) features a tour of the oldest building in Albany that we’re currently restoring to become the new home of HAF.

Restoration Faire (May) features tablers, demonstrations, and a panel discussion on resources to buy and maintain old houses.

Tool Library Workshops (typically one per month, most months) gives the public the opportunity to learn skills like window repair, painting, lamp rewiring, kid-friendly projects like bug hotels, etc.

Repair Cafes gives the public a chance to bring in household items that need repaired. We have experts available to repair and educate.

Technical Assistance

Property owners interested in restoring or rehabilitating residential or commercial buildings can receive such technical assistance as how to stabilize a structure, or which paint color to select that is both historically significant and harmonious with the existing streetscape.

As an information clearinghouse, Historic Albany Foundation has the knowledge and experience to recommend reputable craftsmen for specialized work, as well as information on exterior restoration. Our ‘Preservation Friendly Contractor List’ is a benefit of membership.

We hold regular workshops focused on useful preservation skills, including hands-on window repair, informative sessions on architectural styles, and solutions to old house problems.

Historic Albany Foundation can advise property owners on grants for restorative work and provides information on local, state, and federal grants for preservation and restoration of local historic structures.

Technical Services staff can conduct home site visits on appointment to provide an assessment of the property and offer technical advice on best practices for preserving historic buildings.

Historic Albany Foundation