Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Troy is a city of about 51,000 people on the east bank of the Hudson River in Rensselaer County, New York, about 10 miles north of Albany. In the 19th century it was one of the richest cities in America, a center of iron and steel making and known as the Collar City for the detachable shirt collars manufactured here. It is also the hometown of Samuel Wilson, the meatpacker whose initials inspired the national symbol Uncle Sam.
That wealth left one of the finest collections of Victorian architecture in the country. Downtown Troy's streets of brownstones, cast-iron storefronts and ornate banks have appeared in films and TV series, and landmarks include the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, prized for its acoustics, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church with its Tiffany interior.
Troy is home to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, and the historic Emma Willard School. Visitors come for the year-round Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, the Hart-Cluett Museum, the Burden Iron Works Museum and Oakwood Cemetery, where Uncle Sam is buried on a hill with views over the Hudson Valley.
A concert hall opened in 1875 above a bank in downtown Troy, celebrated by musicians worldwide for its near-perfect acoustics and its historic pipe organ. It hosts classical, jazz, folk and rock concerts in an intimate gilded setting. Check the season calendar and book early for popular shows.
Blocks of beautifully preserved 19th-century brownstones, cast-iron storefronts and ornate banks around River Street, Broadway and Monument Square, so intact that they often stand in for old New York in films and TV. Today they hold cafes, bars, restaurants and antique shops. Wander on foot and look up at the facades.
A large farmers market held every Saturday, outdoors along the riverfront and downtown streets in warm months and indoors in winter. Dozens of vendors sell produce, cheese, baked goods, meat, crafts and prepared food, with live music. It is one of the best in the region; arrive mid-morning and bring cash.
A vast Victorian rural cemetery on the hills above Troy, with winding drives, grand monuments and sweeping views over the Hudson Valley. It holds the grave of Samuel Wilson, the original Uncle Sam, and the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel with Tiffany windows. Drive or walk the lanes, and pick up a map at the entrance.
A grand marble library built in 1897 in the Italian Renaissance style as the Hart Memorial Library, with an ornate reading room, carved details and a large Tiffany stained-glass window. It is still the city's working main library and welcomes visitors. Step in during opening hours to see the interior.
A statue of Samuel Wilson, the Troy meatpacker whose barrels stamped U.S. for the army in the War of 1812 gave rise to the name Uncle Sam, stands in downtown Troy near the river. It is a fun photo stop. Combine it with a visit to his grave at Oakwood Cemetery to complete the story of America's national symbol.
Founded in 1824, RPI is the oldest technological research university in the English-speaking world, with a hilltop campus above downtown Troy. Visitors can stroll past historic buildings and the striking EMPAC arts center, which hosts experimental performances and exhibitions open to the public.
A Gothic Revival church in downtown Troy whose interior was decorated by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in the 1890s, with stained-glass windows, mosaics and decorative details throughout. It is one of the most complete Tiffany church interiors in the country. Visit after Sunday services or on special open days.
The Rensselaer County Historical Society's museum, centered on an elegant 1827 Federal-style townhouse with period rooms and exhibits on Troy's history, industry and the families who lived here. Changing galleries cover topics from the collar industry to local art. It is downtown and takes about an hour.
A museum in the former office building of the Burden Iron Works in South Troy, where Henry Burden's giant waterwheel and horseshoe machines once made Troy an industrial powerhouse. Exhibits and tours explain the area's iron and steel past. Hours are limited and often by appointment, so contact them first.
Top-rated local businesses in Troy, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Troy? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Troy? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: UpstateNYer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: UpstateNYer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Coasterlover1994, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coasterlover1994, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coasterlover1994, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coasterlover1994, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ruthkeenoy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: David Bell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ryan Amann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Barreb4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: User:Skashkin, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Wesley Fryer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Wesley Fryer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Daniel Case, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Danski14, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Daniel Case, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: UpstateNYer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mattvarney, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mattvarney, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mattvarney, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: UpstateNYer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: UpstateNYer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: User:Zotdragon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
