Celebrating 100 Years

While some may know that Albany has deep roots in the founding history of the United States (2024 was Albany’s 400th anniversary of its founding as Fort Orange), people might not realize that this year (2025), the Port of Albany will be celebrating 100 years!

The City of Albany, New York began serving as a port in the early 17th century when the Dutch first set up a trading post near the South End, where goods such as rum, sugar and lumber were brought over from Europe and the West Indies. As trade increased, so did settlement. The population grew to include not only farmers and fur traders, but merchants and entrepreneurs. Ferry service began in 1642, developing the area for commerce on both sides of the Hudson River.

In 1766 to accommodate more ship traffic, the Albany Common Council provided funding for the construction of three stone docks. In 1825, the Albany Basin was built where the Erie Canal and Hudson River met, to provide moorings for sloops, steamboats, and canal boats.

In 1915, a survey looking into the possibility of deepening the Hudson River to accommodate increasingly larger sea vessels was proposed to Congress and by 1924, plans were approved.

On March 25, 1925, New York Governor Al Smith signed Legislation (Laws of 1925, Chapter 192) to create the Albany Port District Commission (APDC) which directed the construction of the Port that stands today. The APDC is a public benefit corporation created to develop and manage port facilities in the cities of Albany and Rensselaer. The commission has five members, four of which are nominated by the Mayor of Albany, and one nominated by the Mayor of Rensselaer. The Governor of New York then appoints Commissioners to three-year terms.

In 1931, work on the $11M (about $200M today) dredging of a 30-mile long, 27-feet deep channel up the Hudson River was completed. The cities of Albany and Rensselaer spent $10M (about $180M today) transforming hundreds of acres of land into docksides and building wharves and sheds on both sides of the Hudson River. The entire landsite was raised nearly 18 feet to accommodate major ocean freighters to load and discharge cargoes from around the world. Port construction was rapid, with construction completed in less than two years.

On June 6 and 7, 1932 the Port of Albany celebrated its official opening with dedication ceremonies involved much fanfare including opening remarks from New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, a great parade, and the "Wedding of the Waters," where the waters from one hundred American and foreign ports were mingled with those of the Hudson River, symbolizing the new meeting point of water and the Port of Albany’s launch as a “Gateway to the World.”