Albany is known for its rich history, commerce, culture, architecture, and institutions of higher education. Albany constitutes the economic and cultural core of the Capital District of New York State, which comprises the Albany–Schenectady–Troy, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area, including the nearby cities and suburbs of Troy, Schenectady, and Saratoga Springs. Albany's population was 99,224 in 2020.

USS Slater (DE-766) is a Cannon-class destroyer escort that served in the United States Navy and later in the Hellenic (Greek) Navy. The ship was named for Frank O. Slater of Alabama, a sailor killed on the cruiser USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site is a historic house museum located in Albany, New York. The mansion was built in 1761 for Philip Schuyler, a prominent politician and businessman who played a key role in the American Revolution.

The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York. The museum houses art, artifacts (prehistoric and historic), and ecofacts that reflect New York’s cultural, natural, and geological development.

The New York State Capitol is a historic government building located in Albany, New York. It houses the chambers of the New York State Legislature and the offices of the Governor of New York. Construction of the Capitol began in 1867 and was completed in 1899. The building was designed by several architects, including Thomas Fuller, who also designed the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.