What to See and Do in Schenectady, NY

Being a Schenectady resident, I have often had visitors ask me, "What is there to see and do in Schenectady." Although Schenectady is a small city there are plenty of activities to keep anyone busy and enough variety to keep everyone interested.

History buffs will love the Stockade Area of Schenectady. Designated as New York State's first Historic District in 1962, the Stockade is bounded by State Street, Erie Boulevard and the Mohawk River and is easily walk able. On the beautiful, tree-lined, narrow streets you will see houses that date back as far as 1740. Visit the Schenectady Historical Society and Museum at 32 Washington Street to learn more about the area and view artifacts from 17th century. The circular park at the intersection of Ferry, Front and Green Streets is the center of the neighborhood and the site of the statue of Lawrence the Indian. If you are visiting in June, check out the annual Stockade Art Show where artists line the streets and exhibit their work.

In recent years, downtown Schenectady has gone through vast changes and is now a center for the arts in the Capital Area. Proctor's Theater is the jewel of the downtown art scene. Originally a vaudeville house built in 1926 it has undergone a tremendous renovation in the last 3 years and is now the place to see Broadway shows, world class opera and ballet companies, symphonies, comedy, cabaret singers and movies. Ever wonder what "Gone With the Wind" or "Lawrence of Arabia" looked like on the big screen? You can find out at Proctor's.

Every 3rd Friday of the month, downtown Schenectady hosts "Art Night". Various galleries and cafes have art displayed and free entertainment. In the warmer months, the entertainment takes to the streets. The Jay Street pedestrian mall, directly across the street from Proctor's, is the center for the activity. You'll hear bands, see street performers and have a wonderful time. The shops on Jay Street stay open and you can browse through the Irish Shop, Blue Spruce Pottery Gallery, Bibliomania - a rare book store, the Open Door Book Store, which also stocks unique gifts from around the world and Paiser Maier, a store that looks like an Indian bazaar.

For those of you who like science, the Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium on Nott Terrace Heights is the place to go. Open all year round, the museum has changing exhibits. Recently, they had an enormous display of toy trains that wound their way through 400 square feet of tracks. The exhibit included small houses, train barns, trees, people, tunnels and a pond. It was a huge hit with visitors of all ages.

The Planetarium offers several different shows throughout the day including HubbleVision II and the new GOTO Star machine which shows 8,500 stars and is one of only 12 in the entire USA.

For outdoor lovers, you must take a trip to Central Park. There are ball fields, tennis courts, paddle boats to zoom around the lake, swings and jungle gyms for the kids and a public swimming pool. During the summer, musical groups perform at the band shell on Sunday nights.

Want something really different to do on your trip? A tour through The Costumer shop would do the trick. With over 100,000 costumes in inventory, everything from politicians to animals to period costumes you're sure to find something to fit your personality. Located at 1020-1030 Barrett Street, call and ask for Debbie to arrange a tour. They can also handle group tours.

As you can see, whether you like history, art, science, the outdoors or the unusual, there are many things to do and see in Schenectady, NY