Washington Avenue (Albany, New York)

Washington Avenue

Coordinates	42°41′02″N 73°48′36″W / 42.6838°N 73.8100°W / 42.6838; -73.8100
East end	Eagle Street
Major junctions	US 9W Lark Street NY 5 Central Avenue Western Avenue Fuller Road (Albany County Route 156)
West end	NY 155 New Karner Road

Washington Avenue is a major east–west route in the city of Albany, New York.

History

The street was originally named King Street in 1764, then Lion in 1790, and finally Washington Avenue. As King Street, lots were sold in 1778 and residences began to line the route up to Lark Street by the 1790s. Washington Avenue as Lion (or Lyon) Street was the widest of the animal-named east–west routes in Albany. The oldest section near Downtown Albany is along the path of the King's Highway to Schenectady. It was first shown on a map by Simeon De Witt in 1794.^[1][2]

The Public Square at the intersection of Eagle Street, State Street, and Washington Avenue was originally the terminus of Washington Avenue. Over time the square was developed into the Capitol East Park and Academy/Lafayette Park.^[3] Prior to the completion of the Erie Canal Washington Avenue was part of the main route from New England to Central and Western New York. The avenue was at its commercial height when the canal was finished in 1823 and fell into decline.^[4]

Washington Avenue from Quail Street to Manning Boulevard was constructed in 1895 as a speedway.^[5]

Washington Avenue ended at Fuller Road until 1973, when the extension section, which continues to New York State Route 155 in the western edge of Albany, was completed.^{[citation needed]}

Route description

Washington Avenue begins at Eagle Street, opposite the