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Think you know the Empire State? Step beyond the bright lights of NYC and test your knowledge on the rich history, natural wonders, and cultural icons of New York State.
Empire State Explorer 0–4 · Upstate Regular 5–8 · True New Yorker 9–10
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While New York City is the state's largest metropolis, Albany has served as the capital of New York State since 1797. Located on the Hudson River, Albany is one of the oldest surviving European settlements from the original thirteen colonies. Interestingly, the city was originally named Fort Orange by Dutch settlers before being renamed by the English in honor of the Duke of Albany.
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
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New York is widely known as the Empire State, a nickname believed to have been popularized by George Washington, who referred to the region as the "seat of the empire." This moniker is proudly stamped on state license plates. The state motto, "Excelsior" (meaning "ever upward"), is also highly prominent, appearing on the official state seal and coat of arms.
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New York designated the apple as its official state fruit in 1976. The state is one of the nation's top producers of apples, second only to Washington. Orchards thrive across upstate regions, producing famous varieties like the Empire apple, which was actually developed at Cornell University in the 1940s.
Photo: fir0002 flagstaffotos [at] gmail.com Canon 20D + Sigma 150mm f/2.8, Wikimedia Commons, GFDL 1.2.
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Seneca Lake is the deepest of the eleven Finger Lakes, reaching depths of over 600 feet, which keeps its waters cool year-round. This unique depth creates a microclimate perfect for grape growing, making the surrounding area a premier wine-producing region. Due to its extreme depth, the U.S. Navy even uses the lake to test sonar equipment.
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The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site is located in Hyde Park, a town along the scenic Hudson River. Roosevelt was born here, used the estate as a retreat during his presidency, and is buried in the rose garden alongside his wife, Eleanor. He was so attached to this estate that he personally supervised the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees on the property.
Photo: Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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The Catskill Mountains were home to the "Borscht Belt," a famous collection of summer resorts popular with Jewish-American families from the 1920s to the 1970s. These venues launched the careers of legendary comedians like Jerry Lewis and Woody Allen. The scenic region also inspired the setting for the iconic 1987 film "Dirty Dancing."
Photo: The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Created in 1885 as the Niagara Reservation, Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest continuously operating state park in the nation. Renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park, helped lead the campaign to preserve the falls from commercial exploitation. Today, the park's rapids generate a massive amount of clean hydroelectric power.
Photo: Ad Meskens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Thousand Island dressing is named in honor of the Thousand Islands region, a beautiful archipelago in the St. Lawrence River between New York and Ontario. Legend says a fishing guide's wife made the condiment for her husband's wealthy clients, and it eventually found its way onto the menu of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The region itself actually consists of 1,864 individual islands.
Photo: Rainer Z ..., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Mount Marcy stands as the highest peak in New York State, reaching an elevation of 5,344 feet. The mountain is named after William L. Marcy, a 19th-century governor of the state who sponsored the first environmental survey of the area. Near its summit lies Lake Tear of the Clouds, which is considered the highest source of the mighty Hudson River.
Photo: Rocfan275, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The Eastern bluebird was officially chosen as New York's state bird in 1970. This beautiful songbird loves open woodlands and gardens, and conservation efforts, like building nest boxes, have helped its population bounce back significantly over the years.
Photo: Sandysphotos2009, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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