Landmarks are everywhere in New York. Because New York has been one of America's cradles of
history and culture and culture, the beautiful, historic buildings in the state actually help to retell the history of the country. You'll find buildings influenced by
military history, as well as ones influenced by innovations in
architecture and design. Landmarks in the state range from simple
covered bridges to splendid mansions of the
Hudson Valley and
Long Island, such as the
Vanderbilt Mansion and
Sagamore Hill.
Everyone's heard of
New York City's famous
Empire State Building and the magnificent
Brooklyn Bridge. The
Statue of Liberty, a 305-foot-tall work of art, is one of the most inspiring landmarks in the world.
In the
Thousand Islands, there's the 120-room
Boldt Castle on Alexandria Bay, and the historic lighthouse at
Tibbetts Point, where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario.
Capital-Saratoga region landmarks include the
State Capitol in
Albany, a marvel of late nineteenth-century grandeur built under the direction of five architects. Nearby, the entire
Schenectady Stockade district is a National Historic Landmark. On a guided walking tour, you can visit the homes of early Dutch settlers.
Another big, uniquely New York landmark is the
Erie Canal, a 363-mile man-made waterway that shaped our nation's history. Opened in 1825, it was a marvel of its time. Today, fisherman and pleasure boats cruise the canal, stopping at
restaurants in quaint canalside villages. Along the Canalway Trail, hikers and cyclists follow the former towpaths where mules once trod.