When plans for the Empire State Plaza were unveiled in April 1963—more than a year after the State of New York appropriated Albany’s 98 acres—one of its most dramatic features was a 336-foot-high arch. The Arch of Freedom was designed to anchor the Plaza’s south end and to connect two low-lying structures for the State Library and State Museum. At the base of the arch, there was to be a 1,500-seat amphitheater and a “shrine” containing a preliminary draft of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Two years later—at the South Mall cornerstone ceremony—the public learned that the arch, shrine, and amphitheater were no longer part of the plan. In their place was a larger single structure, the Cultural Education Center (CEC), which now houses the library and the museum, along with the State Archives.
What happened to the arch?
In addition to cost, lead architect Wallace K. Harrison blamed curators and librarians for its loss. Curators demanded more exhibit space. Librarians wanted more storage. Furthermore, the original design did not include a place for buses to load and unload school groups, which visited daily.
By 1965, the arch was out and the CEC was in, but even then, plans for the new structure continued to change until the very end. According to Harrison, “Once the library problem came up, we never stopped growing, and if we hadn’t finished the building when we did, it would be twice as big now….”
98 Acres in Albany 
I remember hearing of this “arch” from my parents. My mom and her mother were particularly disgusted at the destruction of the neighborhood if I think mom was secretly delighted with the museum component. Dad said the arch idea was utterly impractical. I never understood his reasoning but if dad said it was impractical it probably was! I AM amused at the finger pointing–It’;s your fault!” “No, it’;s YOUR fault!!” “No, dammit, it’s YOUR fault!!!” etc., etc. The more things change….
I wonder if anything like this would’ve been constructed today given today’s 24/7 media, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I AM glad the NY State Library as well as Albany Public etc., are keeping up with the times. No one 53 years ago, could have imagined today’s technology if I believe–hope–books themselves will NEVER go out of fashion. That IS a perfect “marriage,” you know–Library, Archives and Museum in one bldg!
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I still believe that the “Mall” would have been better situated along the Hudson Riverfront. That way, The thousands of “South Enders” could have remained in their homes and businesses and an iconic part of the city could have saved. Also, If the site was built on the riverfront, it could have been a fantastic tourist attraction for the area (Gateway to the Capital of New York /State)as well as consolidating NY.State Workers>
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I don’t know why, because I’ve never been to Albany and may never get to go, but I love reading this history you share. It’s Interesting that the arch was scrapped the same year the St. Louis Gateway arch was built, if I remember correctly. Perhaps that played into the decision too? Pretty cool, too, that the architects kept the arch theme when building the library.
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From what I understand, construction on the Gateway Arch began (after a long wait) at around the time the Empire State Plaza design was presented to the public. And–as you point out–construction was completed at around the same time Albany’s arch was scrapped. Wallace Harrison, by the way, was quick to distinguish between his proposed arch and Eero Saarinen’s in St. Louis.
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Long before St. Louis was even in the picture, Albany and Schenectady, where the original gateway to the west.
When you crossed the Mohawk River in Scotia, you were in Mohawk territory.
To this day that bridge over the Mohawk is known as the gateway bridge, and that part of Schenectady is known as gateway plaza .
So it’s very fitting that Albany would be the gateway to the west, but St. Louis is much more appropriate since that’s where Lewis and Clark took off from, and crossing the Mississippi River is a symbol of western expansion
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First I must say that I thoroughly enjoy reading your sojourns into the history of Albany. It has been a very long time since I visited there.
I’m fairly certain many architects have been thwarted in their design plans by curators and librarians. Having worked at an art gallery/museum, I found myself chuckling at the finger pointing over the design changes. More exhibition space (or money for exhibitions) is the battle cry of curators. Librarians tend to be a bit quieter whilst gently pointing out that their collection will suffer.
What I found particularly interesting is that the building design appealing to curators and librarians is appallingly consistent. Here, 50+ years later is the “new design” for the Vancouver Art Gallery in BC, Canada.
http://globalnews.ca/news/2247129/design-for-proposed-new-vancouver-art-gallery-building-unveiled/
You might notice that is is remarkably 1960’s Retro.
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Yikes. Like the CEC with a hat on top!
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Nicely done
story; exellent pictures; I was looking up a picture of the proposed arch at the Empire State Plaza- thinking of an AIA Article on the St. Louis Arch I just got in email.
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Thanks for commenting. I just looked up the AIA article.
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