Join Albany City Historian Tony Opalka and HAF Tour Guide Derek Baranski for a Saturday stroll along Lark Street and discover the fascinating history behind one of Albany’s most distinctive thoroughfares.

Originally known as Johnson Street, Lark Street was named for Sir William Johnson, a prominent figure in the French and Indian War (1756–1763). When the street grid at the top of the hill was laid out in 1765, its streets were given names honoring British royalty, French and Indian War heroes, and local landmarks.

It may be hard to imagine today, but Lark Street once marked the western edge of Albany’s settled city. It was also an important transportation crossroads, where two major turnpikes—the Great Western and the Mohawk & Hudson—converged, providing a connection to the Delaware Turnpike just a few blocks to the south.

In 1790, Johnson Street was renamed Lark Street, becoming one of the well-known “bird streets” that remain a defining feature of Albany’s cityscape.

Come explore Lark Street’s rich architectural history and hear the stories of the buildings, people, and events that have shaped this remarkable part of Albany. Along the way, you’ll gain a new appreciation for the history hiding in plain sight on one of the city’s most recognizable streets.