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

Altamont Fairgrounds
⎯⎯⎯
Recinto Ferial de Altamont

— The Museum in the Streets —

 
 
Altamont Fairgrounds / Recinto Ferial de Altamont Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, September 1, 2025
1. Altamont Fairgrounds / Recinto Ferial de Altamont Marker
Inscription.  
Altamont Fairgrounds
The Albany Agricultural Society sponsored the first fair in Albany County in 1819. For the next 70 years fairs were held in Albany and in the surrounding towns and villages. In August 1892, local businessmen advocated locating the Albany County Fair in Altamont, a fitting recognition of the rich agricultural heritage of the area. The Altamont Driving Park and Fair Association, as it was first known, was incorporated on May 20, 1893. During the next four months, countless meetings were held, land was acquired, a race track was laid out and buildings were built. On September 12, 1893, the first Altamont Fair opened. Schenectady County (1921) and Greene County (1945) joined Albany County in sponsoring the Fair, creating the only tri-county fair in New York State.

Recinto Ferial de Altamont
La Sociedad Agraria de Albany patrocin๓ la primera feria en el Condado de Albany en 1819. Por los pr๓ximos 70 a๑os, se efectuaron ferias en Albany y sus alrededores. En agosto de 1892, empresarios locales promovieron por instalar la Feria de Albany en Altamont, reconociendo el rico patrimonio agrario de la zona. La Asociaci๓n de Ferias de Altamont entonces se incorpor๓ el 20 de mayo de 1893. Durante los pr๓ximos cuatro meses, se hicieron numerosas reuniones, se adquiri๓ terreno, se dise๑๓ un circuito, se construyeron edificios, y el 12 de septiembre de 1893 se inaugur๓ la primera Feria de Altamont. Los Condados de Schenectady (1921) y Greene (1945) se unieron al de Albany para patrocinar la Feria, creando asํ la ๚nica feria de tres condados en el estado de Nueva York.

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(Marker Number 23.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AgricultureEntertainmentParks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets: Altamont, New York series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 20, 1893.
 
Location. 42° 41.936′ N, 74° 1.617′ W. Marker is in Altamont, New York, in Albany County. It is on Grand Street 0.2 miles east of Fairview Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Altamont NY 12009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, in the Capital District, and in the Albany Metropolitan Area. 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: Altamont High School (about 600
Altamont Fairgrounds / Recinto Ferial de Altamont Marker with View into Fairgrounds image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, September 1, 2025
2. Altamont Fairgrounds / Recinto Ferial de Altamont Marker with View into Fairgrounds
feet away, measured in a direct line); Altamont High School / Instituto Altamont (about 700 feet away); St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Catholic Church / Iglesia Cat๓lica St. Lucy/St. Bernadette (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hayes House / Casa Hayes (approx. 0.2 miles away); Family Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); First National Bank of Altamont / Primer Banco Nacional de Altamont (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Hellebergh (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dedicated (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altamont.
 
Also see . . .
1. The Altamont Fair History. Provides information on the founding of the Fair and a chronology of changes to the Fair and the Fairgrounds, including the 1971 donation of the Hayes House to the Fair. The site also provides a map of the Fairgrounds.
An example of one of the chronological entries:
June 10 [1893] "The Board of Directors approved the purchase [of] 24.5 acres of land in Altamont. The land was originally owned by George Severson and is now held in trust by Isaac Reamer to be known as the "Altamont Fair Grounds." This site is still part of the fairgrounds today."
(Submitted on November 11, 2025, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.) 

2. Map of the Altamont Fairgrounds.
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(Submitted on November 22, 2025, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2025, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2025, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 7, 2026