Park History
About Washington Park
Created in the 1870s, Washington Park is the premier park in the city of Albany, New York and the centerpiece of the historic, mostly residential Washington Park Historic District, which received its designation on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Many of the buildings lining the streets facing the park were designed by some of the most famous architects of the late 19th century, including Henry Hobson Richardson.
Washington Park is an “Olmstedian” park, incorporating many of the philosophical ideals used by Frederick Law Olmsted when he designed New York City’s Central Park. Notable Park features include the Lake House, footbridge, and various monuments. The park is about 89 acres in size with a 5.2-acre lake in the southwestern corner. It contains over 100 species of trees.
As public property Washington Park dates back to Albany’s city charter of 1686, and has seen many uses including that of gunpowder storage, square/parade grounds, and cemetery.
The Park is the site of many community gatherings and festive events, such as the celebrated Tulip Festival, held in the Park each May, theater presented by Park Playhouse every summer, and all kinds of outdoor activity, including jogging, picnicking, fishing, skateboarding, games and team sports, and bird watching.
In 1998 Washington Park was named one of the nation’s 100 most important parks by the American Association of Architects. In 2008 Boston-based composer Peter Child wrote an orchestral piece inspired by the park, entitled Washington Park, which was premiered by the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Use the navigational dots at right, scroll or click below for:
Historical Maps
1850s Cemetery – Before Washington Park
Detail from a larger map of Albany. Cropped area is of the city cemetery.
1857 Cropped Map – Washington Park
Highlighting the future location of Washington Park.
1876 Map – Washington Park
1891 Map – Washington Park – Showing Cemetery
1891 Map – Washington Park
Photographs
Terraces
Historic Lake House
Historic Refrectory
Canoes on the Lake
Ice Skating 1936 TU Archive
Victory Gardens 1944 TU Archive
Historic Lake House TU Archive
Lake House 1934 TU Archive
19th Century Birdhouse
Ice Castle
Circus Parade
Postcards
19th Century Rustic Birdhouse
Bridge
Englewood Place
First Lake House
Knox Street Mall
Moses Fountain
Refractory
Richmond Hill
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial
Tennis Courts
More about the History of Washington Park
- Park History Timeline, 1800-1986 (from the Washington Park Conservancy Handbook) (View PDF)
- Rules for Washington Park, 1875 (from Albany Common Council Records) (View PDF)
- Take a Look at the Parks: Changes for the Better Made by Superintendent Egerton (from the Argus Newspaper, 1891) (View PDF)
- Principal Pleasure Grounds (from the Tercentenary of Albany, 1924) (View PDF)