5 Interesting Pieces of Trivia About Albany, NY

America’s Largest Walmart

Walmart is a staple in cities across the country, but did you know the largest Walmart Supercenter in the USA is right in Albany? Most Walmart Supercenters typically average about 19,000 square feet, but the two-story behemoth in Crossgates Commons is nearly 260,000 square feet! The store is fully stocked with a supermarket on the first floor and department store merchandise on the second, and there's even a special escalator for carts, so you can travel with ease between both floors.

Nipper: A De Facto Mascot  

Nipper was the mascot of the now-defunct Radio Corporation of America (RCA), but he’s unofficially become the mascot of Albany. On the corner of Broadway and Loudonville Road, you’ll find a 28-foot tall, four-ton statue of the terrier on top of an old warehouse. His head is cocked to the side as if he’s still listening to the phonograph in the original painting he’s featured in, His Master’s Voice.

The Most Important Invention?

There’s one especially important modern invention that was created in Albany: perforated, rolled toilet paper. Previous to its invention by businessman Seth Wheeler, toilet paper was sold in sheets, bundled, and wrapped. Today, perforated rolls of toilet paper are the norm, and can be found in nearly every home and business across the United States and the rest of the world. 

Baker’s Dozen 

Did you know the idea of a baker’s dozen (13 items) originated from an Albany legend? There once was a baker, Van Amsterdam, an honest man who gave his customers exactly what they paid for—nothing more, nothing less. He learned the power of generosity after his shop was cursed with bad luck when he refused to give an old woman (later revealed to be Saint Nicholas) an extra cookie in her dozen. After Van Amsterdam understood the power of giving, his business flourished once more, and his success led other bakers in his area to give an extra goodie in their dozen. The practice soon became widespread across the American colonies and even continues today. Doesn’t that make you crave a baked treat? 

77 Steps to Interview the President

Before he became President of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt was the Governor of New York State, and he was known to be a strong man who believed in the importance of exercise. Legend has it Governor Roosevelt would run up the stairs of the Capitol Building—77 stairs, to be precise—every morning. If any reporter wanted an interview, they simply had to beat him to the top of the stairs, although it was no easy feat!

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Sources: 

Aaron Shepherd: The Baker’s Dozen

Albany.org: Amazing Albany Facts

Albany Institute: Perforated Toilet Paper

Atlas Obscura: World’s Largest Nipper Statue