Quote: This is museum is kind of tucked away at the south end of the huge plaza, across the road and the entrance is under the bridge - it took us a while to find it - but it was worth finding it, especially as its free entry.

The museum is a mix of exhibits dealing with life in the state - from the wilderness exhibits of the Adirondacks to the skyscrapers of New York, with exhibits on the Native Peoples of the state and on fire engines - it is quite a wide range of topics to cover but gives a rich insight into the varying history of the state. Most of the exhibits are colourful and interesting, with many having interactive elements but equally with enough information given to stretch you a little. About the least appealing exhibit to me was the birds of NY, which reminded me a little to much of dry and dusty museums of childhood of looking, not touching. But it is well laid out with enough space around each exhibit that it doesn't feel crowded or overwhelming. Coming from the other side of the big pond, this was a reasonable interesting introduction to life in New York State.

The museum also has an exhibit entitled 'The World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response' which tells the history of the World Trade Center then 9/11 attacks, the rescue efforts, and the response to the attacks. It is quite a moving attempt to communicate something of the tragedy with it including items recovered from the site. It is an interesting attempt to document what happened and how it affected so many people, but it stirred up many feelings from my own background of growing up with terrorism and the results of it.

If you are in Albany, the museum is well worth a visit - helped especially as it is free! Time wise that is up to you - we had about an hour and that was a little too short but don't think of spending huge amounts of time here either.
From journals Albany to Ottawa and Back Again