Stop 1: Orientation

NARRATOR: Welcome to the New York State Capitol Audio Tour. If you don’t already have one, please ask a Visitor Center Assistant for the brochure that accompanies this audio tour. It includes a map, which will help you to orient yourself to the layout of the Capitol and to follow your tour route.

To get to the Capitol, you will need to turn left once you have exited the Plaza Visitor Center. When you reach the end of the corridor, you will come to a security checkpoint, where you will need to walk through a metal detector. Once you pass security, continue in the direction you were heading, following the signs for the audio tour. You will be able to reach the first floor of the Capitol by using an escalator or an elevator – just follow the route indicated on your map, which will lead you to the first floor corridor on the North side of the building.

All the audio stops in the Capitol are numbered. But the tour is designed to work for you. While we’ve suggested a route, you can listen to the audio stops in any order you wish. You can spend an hour in the Capitol – or several hours, depending on your degree of interest and the time you have available.

You may notice other visitors in the Capitol on a tour with a guide; we ask that you please not join them. These guided tours have been pre-arranged and are not able to accommodate additional guests. Also, please remember that the Capitol is a place of business. We trust that you will not disturb those who work here.