Downtown in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

1st Telephone Central Office in New York State

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017

1. 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State Marker

Inscription.
1st telephone central office in New York State opened near this site March 18, 1878

Erected 1979 by Telephone Pioneers of America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1878.

Location. 42° 38.981′ N, 73° 45.047′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Downtown. It is on Broadway south of Maiden Lane, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, in a small parking lot in the middle of the block, directly across Broadway from the US Federal Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 446 Broadway, Albany NY 12207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Capital District.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Fur Trade (within shouting distance of this marker); Building A Place to Live (within shouting distance of this marker); This is Broadway (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Anneke Janse Bogardus House Site (about 300 feet away); Old Dutch Church (about 300 feet away); Albany (about 400 feet away); General Burgoyne (about 400 feet away); Clermont (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Regarding 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State.

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A Telephone Central Office is a term unique to North America. They are known elsewhere as Telephone Exchanges. Individual wires from all of the telephones in the surrounding area are routed to the Central Office building and terminated on equipment that allow telephone users to request a connection to any another telephone. Originally telephone operators manually connected calls using cord. Subsequently automatic switching equipment connected most calls.

Also see . . . Telephone Exchange. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 15, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

1st Telephone Central Office in New York State Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017

2. 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State Marker (wide view)

Central Office Marker in an Older Paint Scheme image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, September 25, 2006

3. Central Office Marker in an Older Paint Scheme

Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,389 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on August 13, 2020, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.