Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery 2026
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Caring for Your Cemetery Day
Sunday, April 26, 2026 Chapel 9pm to 12pm and/or 12pm to 3pm
The New York State Division of Cemeteries aspires to connect cemeteries with volunteers to assist in clean-up activities, including clearing small debris, weeding, trimming and other light tasks. Albany Rural Cemetery and its Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery Board members will be proudly participating in this event and seek volunteers to help celebrate the beauty of our glorious cemetery. Enjoy the day, meet new people and give a little back to your community. All participants will receive a gift of appreciation from the Friends Board for their efforts. Clean-up tools will gladly be provided by Friends!
NOTE: Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and may include carpooling to different areas of the cemetery.
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Cemetery Symbolism – Walking Tour
Saturday, May 16, 2026 10AM– 10AM – 4PM, Chapel (Rain date Sunday, May 17)
Cost $20 per person
PRESENTERS: Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery Board of Directors Members Elizabeth Berberian, Kevin Jack and Erin Sheehan
NOTE: Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and may include carpooling between sites.
Join us for a walking tour through one of the cemetery’s quieter and more natural areas, Middle Ridge, as we explore Albany Rural Cemetery’s rich tapestry of gravestone symbols and share stories about some of the notable individuals buried here. You may have wondered about the meaning behind sculptures like an anchor, an upside-down torch, or a draped urn. Each gravestone symbol holds a unique significance, mostly stemming from the Victorian era. This tour lifts the veil on these carvings, explaining the significance behind some of the most common (and not-so-common) symbols of death and mourning.
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Classic Cars and Crypts
Saturday, June 6, 2026 (Rain Date is Sunday June 7, 2026)
11:00am to 3:00pm (NOTE NEW TIME!)
Albany Rural Cemetery’s Cypress Pond
Free to the Public–Classic Car Exhibitors $15 per car
Join us for our fifth annual Classic Cars and Crypts event! This family-friendly day includes a car show, great music, food, merchandise, raffles and more. In addition, Board members of the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery, together with knowledgeable volunteers, will offer guided tours of the cemetery’s famous “Millionaire’s Row” every half hour from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Register and pay for these popular tours at the registration table at a cost of $10 per person.
**Car show registration is $15. Car owners can pre-register here
The first 100 attendees who pre-register their classic cars will receive a gift of appreciation, courtesy of the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery. Classic car drivers (with their cars, of course) should arrive for check-in between 10:00am and 11:00am (NOTE NEW TIME!) Join the fun, cast a vote for your favorite car for the “People’s Choice” award and view the car judged “Best in Show.”
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Heroes of the American Revolution – Walking Tour
Sunday, June 28, 2026 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Meet at the Albany Rural Cemetery’s Chapel for Tour
COST: $20 per person
PRESENTERS: Michael P. Barrett, noted historian, Board member of the Albany Cemetery Association and Executive Director Emeritus of the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway and John DiNuzzo, First Vice President of the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery and President of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance
As part of our commemoration of America’s 250th birthday, Michael and John will host a walking tour that highlights the final resting places of Albany Rural Cemetery’s Patriot heroes who played important roles in the forming of our nation. In addition to famous names such as Major General Philip Schuyler and Colonel Peter Gansevoort, Michael and John will share fascinating stories on the Surveyor General of the Continental Army, the Chief Physician of the Continental Army’s Northern Department, a Captain who served under Lafayette at Yorktown, and others buried in our hallowed grounds.
NOTE: Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and may include carpooling between sites. If weather is inclement, a presentation and discussion at the cemetery’s Chapel will occur instead.
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The Life and Times of President Chester A. Arthur – Walking Tour
Saturday, July 25, 2026
10:00am to 12:00pm
Meet at Albany Rural Cemetery’s Cypress Pond
$20 per person
PRESENTER: Tom Fraser, Friends Volunteer, Former National Park Service Ranger and Tour Leader at Lindenwald, President Martin Van Buren’s Kinderhook Home
Join Tom as he explores the many people near and dear to Chester A. Arthur, our nation’s 21st President. Tom will share stories about Arthur’s family members also buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, as well as the many politicians and other public figures he associated with in the Albany area. Tom will also discuss Arthur’s health issues which impacted his presidency and beyond and provide interesting insight into Arthur’s portrayal in the recent Netflix series, “Death by Lightning.” This will prove to be a fascinating tour full of intrigue, discussions of fate, underscoring how timing is everything.
NOTE: Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and may include carpooling between sites. If weather is inclement, a presentation and discussion at the cemetery’s Chapel will occur instead.
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Erastus Dow Palmer, the “Sculptor of this City” – Presentation
Friday, August 7, 2026
6:00pm to 7:00pm
Albany Institute of History and Art–Washington Avenue
Free–But Please Register for this event
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind the beautiful memorials in Albany Rural Cemetery? Hidden among them are works by Erastus Dow Palmer, the carpenter, cameo carver and sculptor who rose to international fame as one of the 19th century’s most celebrated artists. Within a year of his arrival in Albany, the Albany Evening Journal hailed Palmer as “the Sculptor of this City.” How did a self-taught artist achieve such acclaim? In this engaging presentation, Dr. Radlick introduces Palmer and traces his remarkable journey from skilled tradesman to internationally renowned sculptor. She explores his enduring legacy through the memorials he created in Albany Rural Cemetery blending historical and contemporary images to highlight Palmer’s artistry, the memorials he designed and the remarkable the people they commemorate.
PRESENTER: Dr. Lynn Radlick, author of the recently released book, Erastus Dow Palmer: Sculptor of this City. Dr. Radlick was previously a Professor of Biology at Siena College and later RPI. She and her husband, Dr. Michael Radlick are long-standing historical researchers and taphophiles who have been involved in researching, writing and presenting on Albany Rural Cemetery for over 30 years.
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Remembered in Stone: The Legacy of Erastus Dow Palmer – Walking Tour
Sunday, August 16th 1:00 pm & Saturday September 19th 1:00 pm
1:00pm to 3:00pm
Meet at Albany Rural Cemetery’s Cypress Pond
$16 per person for Friends and Albany Institute of History and Art (AIHA) Members
$20 per person for non-Friends and Non-AIHA Members
PRESENTER: Dr. Lynn Radlick, author of the recently released book, Erastus Dow Palmer: Sculptor of this City. Lynn was previously a Professor of Biology at Siena College and later RPI. She and her husband, Dr. Michael Radlick are long-standing historical researchers and taphophiles who have been involved in researching, writing and presenting on Albany Rural Cemetery for over 30 years.
NOTE: There are two offerings scheduled for this tour. Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and carpooling between sites. If weather is inclement, a presentation and discussion at the Cemetery’s Chapel will occur instead.
Step into Albany Rural Cemetery, an open-air museum of Victorian funerary art including twelve works by the internationally celebrated 19th-century sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer. Among these is one of his most renowned masterpieces, Angel of the Sepulchre – a full-sized plaster cast of which is prominently displayed in the rotunda of the Albany Institute of History and Art. This combination walking/driving tour highlights memorials for a range of individuals—infants, a young daughter and a young mother, as well as a politicians, businessmen, and other professionals. Dr. Radlick will also guide you to Palmer’s final resting place, marked by a monument designed by Marcus T. Reynolds with input from Palmer’s famous son and Impressionist painter, Walter Launt Palmer. The monument is adorned with reproductions of two of Palmer’s most popular works from the 1850s. Experience history, artistry, and memory intertwined in this serene and beautiful historic cemetery.
August 16 September 19
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Andrew Meneely and the Meneely Family Wreath-Laying
Sunday, September 20, 2026 – Rain or Shine
1:00pm to 2:00pm
Meet at Albany Rural Cemetery’s Chapel, then Convene at Section 58 Middle Ridge
Free Event
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of one of the most prominent bell foundries in the United States: The Meneely Bell Foundry, located in West Troy, now Watervliet, New York. Andrew Meneely (1802-1851), a trained bell caster, and his sons made thousands of bells for churches, schools and other civic organizations throughout the country and around the world during their lifetime. In fact, one such bell was made for Albany Rural Cemetery! Known for their exceptional tone and craftsmanship, many Meneely bells are still in use today. In partnership with the Watervliet Historical Society, we will commemorate this important bicentennial celebration by laying a wreath at the Meneely family gravesite. Join us in paying tribute to this incredibly talented craftsman, his family and their enduring legacy.
NOTE: This event will require walking a short distance in the cemetery from the Chapel to Section 58, Middle Ridge, however, carpooling to the burial site will be available. Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces and in between burial plots.
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Ales From the Crypt – Walking Tour
Saturday, September 26, 2026
1:00pm to 3:00pm
Meet at Albany Rural Cemetery’s Chapel
$30 per person
PRESENTERS: Albany Beer Historian Craig Gravina, and Maeve McEneny Johnson, Director of Community Engagement at Discover Albany
NOTE: Attendees must be at least 21 years of age. Due to the popularity of this event, advance registration is required, with first opportunity offered to Friends members who will receive advanced notice of ticket sales. Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and carpooling between sites. If the weather is inclement, the event will be held indoors at the cemetery’s Chapel.
This tour showcases Albany’s unique brewing history and the many beer brewers from days gone by buried at the cemetery. Whether you are a beer lover, a history lover, or just want to enjoy an enlightening afternoon in a beautiful spot, join us as we raise a glass to Albany’s rich brewing history and regale you with stories of the titans of Albany brewing who now rest in peace at Albany Rural Cemetery. The tour will culminate with a tasting featuring beers from Common Roots Brewing Company. This event is generously sponsored by the Common Roots Brewing Company.
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Presidential Wreath-Laying at the Grave of President Chester A. Arthur
Monday, October 5, 2026
11:00am to 12:30pm
Albany Rural Cemetery, Section 24
Free
Please join us at our annual ceremony to honor the October 5th birthday of Chester A. Arthur, 21st President of the United States. In keeping with decades of tradition, a wreath sent by the White House will be laid at the gravesite by representatives of the armed services. Join us for this solemn and patriotic event, honoring the “Gentleman Boss.” Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery.
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Stories from The Past – Walking Tour
Sunday, October 18, 2026 – Rain or Shine!
11:00am to 1:00pm
Meet at Albany Rural Cemetery’s Cypress Pond
$20 per person
PRESENTER: Michele Lyons-Polito, Friends Volunteer, Psychic/Medium, Ghost Rescuer and Bagpiper
Join Michele as she leads us on a guided walking tour that will highlight local and spiritual history. We will visit several gravesites where Michele will share the history of those interred and connect with spirits for them to share their stories.
NOTE: Dress comfortably and for the weather. Activities will involve walking on uneven surfaces, around burial plots and may involve carpooling between sites.
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The Rural Cemetery Movement and Albany Rural Cemetery’s Role – Presentation
Sunday, October 18, 2026
2:00pm to 3:30pm
Town of Colonie Library, 629 Albany-Shaker Road
COST: Free–must register on Colonie Town Library Website
PRESENTERS: Dr. Michael Radlick, previously an educational researcher and program evaluator, now serving as Vice-President of the Colonie Historical Society, Treasurer of the Board of the Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery and a member of the Albany Cemetery Association and Dr. Lynn Radlick, previously a Professor of Biology at Siena College and later RPI. Michael and Lynn are long-standing historical researchers and taphophiles who have been involved in researching, writing and presenting on Albany Rural Cemetery for over 30 years.
The Rural Cemetery movement began in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century and later spread to America. This presentation will explore the many factors that drove this powerful movement and the mark it left on cities across the US. The founding and early development of Albany Rural Cemetery will be discussed within the context of the Rural Cemetery Movement. Register for this event by visiting the Town of Colonie’s Library website at https://www.colonielibrary.org/events/ or call their information desk at 518.810.0314. This event is kindly jointly sponsored by the Colonie Historical Society and the Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery.
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Trunk or Treat
Saturday, October 24, 2026
1:00pm to 3:00pm – NOTE NEW TIME!
Albany Rural Cemetery’s Chapel
COST: Free
Bring your children for a fun, spooky, and safe Halloween event on the grounds of the cemetery. Enjoy food from local vendors, purchase cemetery merchandise and take a chance or two at winning beautifully crafted raffle baskets! Become a “spirit of the season” and join in by decorating your vehicle and passing out candy! Email XXX if you would like to participate. A boo-tiful time will be had by all!
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How the Rich were Buried —Traces of Tiffany in Albany Rural Cemetery – Presentation
Sunday, November 15, 2026
1:00pm to 2:30pm
Albany Rural Cemetery’s Chapel
$20 per person
PRESENTERS: Dr. Michael Radlick, previously an educational researcher and program evaluator, now serving as Vice-President of the Colonie Historical Society, Treasurer of the Board of the Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery and a member of the Albany Cemetery Association and Dr. Lynn Radlick, previously a Professor of Biology at Siena College and later RPI. Michael and Lynn are long-standing historical researchers and taphophiles who have been involved in researching, writing and presenting on Albany Rural Cemetery for over 30 years.
Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of the most prolific and talented designers of the Gilded Age. Few people know that this remarkable and multi-talented artist was also in the gravestone business. His Tiffany Studio in New York designed over 760 documented cemetery monuments for wealthy families of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We have at least 30 documented Tiffany gravestone monuments in Albany Rural Cemetery. Join Drs. Michael and Lynn Radlick for a richly illustrated presentation exploring Tiffany’s lesser-known cemetery monument work. Drawing on their recent research, the Radlicks will share a more definitive inventory of Tiffany monuments at Albany Rural Cemetery along with insights into Louis Comfort Tiffany’s background and artistic approach.
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Holiday Shop and Bake Sale
Saturday, November 28, 2026
10:00am to 4:00pm
Albany Rural Cemetery’s Chapel
Free–Open to the Public
Stop by and join the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery as we celebrate our fifth annual Holiday Shop and Bake Sale! Start (or finish) your holiday shopping by selecting from an array of unique gifts, festive décor, and ARC merchandise offered for purchase. Take your chances at winning one of our hand-crafted, made with love, raffle baskets, and sample a large variety of tempting tasty treats. Say hello to Friends Board members, volunteers, and make new friends. The more, the merrier, to help Friends kick-off the season of giving!