Albany International Airport Unveils New Exhibit Celebrating 200 Years of the Meneely Bell Foundry

ALBANY, N.Y. – Albany International Airport (ALB), in partnership with the Watervliet Historical Society, unveiled a new temporary exhibit Tuesday celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Meneely Bell Foundry, one of the Capital Region’s most significant historic manufacturers.

The exhibit, presented through Albany International Airport’s Art & Culture Program, is located inside the airport’s C Concourse, beyond the TSA security checkpoint, and will be visible to ticketed passengers traveling through ALB.

The display features a bell produced by the Meneely Bell Foundry circa 1869. Discovered in the Buffalo area, the bell is believed to have been used in a school. Tuesday’s unveiling also included a ceremonial ringing of the bell.

Founded by Andrew Meneely in 1826 in Gibbonsville, now part of Watervliet, the Meneely Bell Foundry became one of the most respected bell makers in the country and eventually earned international recognition. Meneely bells were used in churches, schools, firehouses, ships, trains, lighthouses and communities across the United States and around the world.

“The Capital Region is rich in historical significance, and our local museums are crucial to the preservation of our stories and ephemera. As the gateway to the Region, the Airport is the perfect place to showcase our cultural vitality through exhibits like this one about Watervliet's Meneely Foundry,” said Kathy Greenwood, ALB’s Director of Exhibitions and Programs.

Before modern alarms, public address systems and digital notifications, bells played a critical role in daily life. They called people to worship, marked weddings and funerals, warned of fires, signaled the beginning and end of the school or workday, and helped guide ships through deep water channels.

Andrew Meneely was born on May 19, 1802. After apprenticing under bell maker Julius Hanks as a teenager, he went on to establish his own foundry and help make Watervliet an important center of American bell making. Over the course of their history, the Meneely foundries produced approximately 65,000 bells before closing in 1951.

“Andrew Meneely and the Meneely Bell Foundry are an important part of Watervliet’s rich history and tradition. Today, on Andrew Meneely’s birthday, we are proud to recognize his contributions and share a piece of that history with everyone,” said Charles Patricelli, Mayor of Watervliet. “It is especially meaningful to have this display seen by the many travelers who pass through the airport each day, helping showcase Watervliet’s proud heritage and the lasting legacy of the Meneely bells.”

The exhibit was created in partnership with the Watervliet Historical Society, which provided historical context and support for the display.

Albany International Airport’s Art & Culture Program features rotating exhibits and installations throughout the terminal, helping connect travelers with the people, places and stories that shape the Capital Region.