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Albany, NY is the oldest continuously chartered city in the United States. The Upper Madison Group celebrates that rich heritage and weaves a deep appreciation of place and history into all of our events and projects.
Explore the stories of Albany, Pine Hills, and the Upper Madison Neighborhood through self-guided walking tours, short historical pieces, and The History of Here, a compelling hyper-local history by writer and historian Akum Norder, who also curated the tours and stories on this page
Are you passionate about local history, especially in the Upper Madison area? We’d love your help growing this project! Reach out to us at history@uppermadison.org to learn how you can contribute.
Walking Tours
Our self-guided walking tour highlights two of the Pine Hills neighborhood’s greatest assets: its walkability and its historic character. We occasionally offer guided tours – none are currently scheduled, but check back here or contact us at info@uppermadison.org for information on guided tours.
The self-guided tour available via the PocketSights Tour Guide app and as a printable brochure. Printed versions of the brochure are available on request to info@uppermadison.org.
Pocket Guide App
Downloadable PDF
The History of Here
The self-guided tour and other information on this page was curated by Akum Norder and developed as a partnership between Upper Madison Group and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association. Interested in knowing more about this special neighborhood? Read Akum’s book: The History of Here: A House, the Pine Hills Neighborhood, and the City of Albany | by Akum Norder SUNY Press, Paperback, 314 pp, 2018. $19.95 How the Pine Hills neighborhood in Albany, New York, changed and grew, as reflected in the history of one house and the lives of its residents.Available from SUNY Press or at the Albany Public Library
History Stories
Glass School
The latticework metal spire that stands behind the St. Vincent de Paul parish center may look a bit like modern sculpture,...
1000 Madison Avenue
One of the most fondly remembered addresses in all of the Pine Hills, this stately Victorian was home to a branch of the...
Railroad Pioneers
The cars were souped-up stagecoaches fitted to run on the rails. The locomotive was the DeWitt Clinton, one of the earliest...
The Mural
Small businesses bring heart and identity to the Pine Hills neighborhood. It was that spirit of community that resident...
The Madison Theatre
Out of all of the theaters built in an era of grand and glamorous movie palaces, the Madison is one of the last where you...
Steamer 10 Firehouse
With the clang of bells and the clatter of hooves on brick -- that's how firefighting began in Albany's Pine Hills...
