Key facts
- A 28-foot tall Nipper dog statue has been a fixture atop an Albany warehouse for nearly 70 years.
- The statue is a beloved local symbol and unofficial mascot for the city.
- The building Nipper is attached to has been marked with a caution placard due to its poor condition.
- The Historic Albany Foundation has identified the building as 'in peril'.
- Efforts are underway to list Nipper and his building as historic landmarks.
- The warehouse district containing Nipper's building has been nominated for historic registers.
Albany, N.Y. — The future of Nipper, a beloved 28-foot tall dog statue that has graced the rooftop of an unused warehouse for nearly seven decades, is uncertain as concerns grow over the building's condition and legal status. The statue, a replica of the famous RCA logo, has become a significant symbol of local pride and an unofficial mascot for the city, appearing on various merchandise.
The warehouse, which has been vacant for at least a decade, was recently marked with a caution placard, signaling potential risks to the statue attached to it. The Historic Albany Foundation has listed the building as 'in peril,' and lawyers involved in ongoing foreclosure litigation have not yet commented.
Nipper's history dates back to a 19th-century English dog and a painting by Francis Barraud, 'His Master's Voice,' which was later acquired by RCA. The Albany statue, constructed in the late 1950s, was placed to advertise an RCA appliance distributor and is notably larger than other Nipper statues.
Despite the building's disrepair, there are no serious discussions about moving Nipper due to the logistical and financial challenges. Local officials are actively seeking solutions, with Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs working to designate Nipper as a city historic landmark. 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.