Key facts
- The 28-foot Nipper statue has been a fixture atop an Albany warehouse for nearly 70 years.
- The statue is a beloved local icon and unofficial mascot for Albany.
- The warehouse is unused, has been marked with a caution placard, and is subject to years of litigation.
- The Historic Albany Foundation has listed the building as 'in peril'.
- Efforts are underway to designate Nipper and his building as historic landmarks.
- The warehouse district containing the statue has been nominated for historic registers.
Albany's cherished Nipper statue, a 28-foot representation of the RCA logo's terrier, faces an uncertain future as the warehouse it has adorned for nearly seven decades is deemed a hazard. The building, unused for at least ten years and entangled in years of litigation, was recently marked with a caution placard, signaling potential demolition.
The statue, a composite body over a steel frame, was placed atop the four-story building in the late 1950s to advertise an RCA appliance distributor. Over time, Nipper has become a significant symbol of local pride, appearing on merchandise and deeply associated with the city's identity.
Concerns for Nipper's future have grown as the building's condition deteriorates. The Historic Albany Foundation has listed the property as 'in peril,' and the city's caution placard warns first responders. While moving the roughly four-ton statue is logistically challenging and expensive, discussions are underway to explore potential new locations.
Efforts are being made to secure Nipper's future. Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs is working to add the statue to the city's list of historic landmarks. Additionally, the warehouse district where Nipper resides has been nominated for state and national historic registers, which could make the building eligible for preservation tax credits.