Hudson River School Art Trail Art School River Hudson the the Hudson River School Art Trail Art School River Hudson The

Home , Catskill Mountain House, Charles Herbert Moore, Frederic Edwin Church, Hudson River School, Jasper Francis Cropsey, Lake with Dead Trees

1827 painting depicting the same view. same the depicting painting 1827

Kaaterskill Clove, with inset of Thomas Cole’s Thomas of inset with Clove, Kaaterskill

www.thomascole.org www.thomascole.org

Department of Economic Development; used with permission. with used Development; Economic of Department

Photograph shows present-day view of view present-day shows Photograph I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State York New the of mark service and trademark registered a is YORK NEW LOVE I

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Historic National Cole Thomas The The Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Historic National Cole Thomas The

is a project of Cedar Grove, Cedar of project a is is a project of Cedar Grove, Cedar of project a is

The Hudson River School Art Trail Art School River Hudson The The Hudson River School Art Trail Art School River Hudson The

the New York State Council on the Arts. the on Council State York New the

www.thomascole.org the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Arts & Business Council of New York, and York, New of Council Business & Arts the Transportation, of Department U.S. the

Greene County Tourism Promotion Department. The Trail project is funded in part by part in funded is project Trail The Department. Promotion Tourism County Greene Phone 518-943-7465 Phone

and with the National Park Service Rivers & Trails program, with assistance from the from assistance with program, Trails & Rivers Service Park National the with and

218 Spring Street, Catskill, New York 12414 York New Catskill, Street, Spring 218

Site, presented in partnership with Olana, the home and workplace of Frederic Church, Frederic of workplace and home the Olana, with partnership in presented Site,

The Hudson River School Art Trail is a project of the Thomas Cole National Historic National Cole Thomas the of project a is Trail Art School River Hudson The

Regional Office year-round at 518-357-2234. at year-round Office Regional

Campground office at 518-589-5058, or call the DEC the call or 518-589-5058, at office Campground

American Art in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tuscaloosa, in Art American

Company and displayed in The Westervelt-Warner Museum of Museum Westervelt-Warner The in displayed and Company For information during the camping season, call the the call season, camping the during information For

Oil on canvas, 27-1/4 x 48-1/4 in. Property of the Westervelt the of Property in. 48-1/4 x 27-1/4 canvas, on Oil

which is open from early May through late October. October. late through May early from open is which

, 1849. , Church, Edwin Frederic Above the Clouds at Sunrise at Clouds the Above 8: Site Trail

William A. Lawhead, and the William Hood Dunwoody Fund Dunwoody Hood William the and Lawhead, A. William New York State DEC’s North-South Lake Campground, Lake North-South DEC’s State York New

Bequest of Mrs. Lillian Lawhead Rinderer in memory of her brother, her of memory in Rinderer Lawhead Lillian Mrs. of Bequest

Your visit may require the purchase of a day-use fee at the at fee day-use a of purchase the require may visit Your

Oil on canvas, 29 x 44 in. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Arts. of Institute Minneapolis The in. 44 x 29 canvas, on Oil

North-South Lake Area Lake North-South , 1855. 1855. , Cropsey, Francis Jasper Catskill Mountain House Mountain Catskill 7: Site Trail

Gift of Charles F. Olney, 1904 Olney, F. Charles of Gift

27 x 34 in. Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Ohio. Ohio. College, Oberlin Museum, Art Memorial Allen in. 34 x 27 Admission is free. is Admission

, 1825. Oil on canvas, canvas, on Oil 1825. , Cole, Thomas Lake with Dead Trees Dead with Lake 6: Site Trail

call 518-589-6657 for the most up-to-date information. up-to-date most the for 518-589-6657 call

weekends during the summer, but we suggest that you you that suggest we but summer, the during weekends 14-3/4 by 12-1/4 in. Gift of Katherine French Rockwell. Rockwell. French Katherine of Gift in. 12-1/4 by 14-3/4

Art Movement. Art

, 1871. Oil on canvas, canvas, on Oil 1871. , Gifford, R. Sanford Kaaterskill Falls Kaaterskill 5: Site Trail

The “Art Trail Interpretive Center” is usually open open usually is Center” Interpretive Trail “Art The

38-1/4 x 60 in. The Century Association, New York City, NY City, York New Association, Century The in. 60 x 38-1/4

Mountain Top Historical Society Society Historical Top Mountain same vistas today. today. vistas same

, 1866. Oil on canvas, canvas, on Oil 1866. , Durand, B. Asher Kaaterskill Clove Kaaterskill 4: Site Trail

American American

American American Albany, NY, 1964.70. AIHA Purchase, Evelyn Newman Fund Newman Evelyn Purchase, AIHA 1964.70. NY, Albany,

www.olana.org or call 518-828-0135. call or www.olana.org composition board, 17 x 25 in. Albany Institute of History and Art, and History of Institute Albany in. 25 x 17 board, composition

the painted scenes from the 1800s with the with 1800s the from scenes painted the

, c. 1833. Oil on on Oil 1833. c. , Cole, Thomas View on Catskill Creek Catskill on View 3: Site Trail

the guided house tour. For more information, log on to on log information, more For tour. house guided the

the First Great Great First the the First Great Great First the

Recreation and Historic Preservation Historic and Recreation

own self-guided tour of the Trail and to compare to and Trail the of tour self-guided own

car on weekends and holidays, and a year-round fee for for fee year-round a and holidays, and weekends on car

8-11/16 x 12-1/8 in. Olana State Historic Site, NYS Office of Parks, of Office NYS Site, Historic State Olana in. 12-1/8 x 8-11/16

, 1872. Oil on paper, paper, on Oil 1872. , Church, Frederic Clouds Over Olana Over Clouds 2: Site Trail

house are highly recommended. There is a small fee per fee small a is There recommended. highly are house

Who Created Created Who Who Created Created Who The map and directions will enable you to take your take to you enable will directions and map The

Historic Site. Gift of the Florence Cole Vincent Estate Vincent Cole Florence the of Gift Site. Historic

from November through March. Reservations to tour the tour to Reservations March. through November from

1868. Oil on canvas, 5-7/8 x 9-1/4 in. The Thomas Cole National National Cole Thomas The in. 9-1/4 x 5-7/8 canvas, on Oil 1868.

, , Moore, Herbert Charles Thomas Cole’s Cedar Grove Cedar Cole’s Thomas 1: Site Trail

10 am to 5 pm, April through October, and on weekends on and October, through April pm, 5 to am 10

of the Painters Painters the of of the Painters Painters the of leading you to the views depicted in the paintings. the in depicted views the to you leading

Interior panel Interior

Tours of the house are offered daily (except Mondays), Mondays), (except daily offered are house the of Tours

Smithsonian American Art Museum, museum purchase 1966.50 purchase museum Museum, Art American Smithsonian

some of the magnificent paintings they created and provides a map a provides and created they paintings magnificent the of some

, 1850. Oil on canvas, 18-3/8 x 27-1/4 in. 27-1/4 x 18-3/8 canvas, on Oil 1850. , Catskill Creek Catskill Olana State Historic Site Historic State Olana

Footsteps Footsteps

Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD; Jasper Francis Cropsey, Francis Jasper MD; Hagerstown, Arts, Fine of Museum

1847. Oil on canvas, 21-1/2 x 29-3/4 in. The Washington County Washington The in. 29-3/4 x 21-1/2 canvas, on Oil 1847. inspired America’s first great landscape artists. This brochure reproduces reproduces brochure This artists. landscape great first America’s inspired log on to www.thomascole.org or call 518-943-7465. call or www.thomascole.org to on log

, Church, Frederic Alabama; Tuscaloosa, Scene on Catskill Creek Catskill on Scene

Walk in the the in Walk Walk in the the in Walk

charge, and a small fee is charged for the tour. For details, For tour. the for charged is fee small a and charge,

The Warner Collection of Gulf States Paper Corporation, Paper States Gulf of Collection Warner The

The Hudson River School Art Trail takes you to the sites that sites the to you takes Trail Art School River Hudson The

1826. Oil on canvas, 43 x 36 in. 36 x 43 canvas, on Oil 1826. Cole, Thomas Falls of the Kaaterskill, the of Falls 4 pm, May through October. The grounds are open free of free open are grounds The October. through May pm, 4

Introduction page, clockwise from top: from clockwise page, Introduction

are offered Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am to am 10 Sunday, & Saturday Friday, Thursday, offered are New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT Britain, New Art, American of Museum Britain New

Hudson River School Art Trail Art School River Hudson

The Main House and Studio are open by guided tours, which tours, guided by open are Studio and House Main The 1827. Oil on canvas, 25 x 33 in. 33 x 25 canvas, on Oil 1827. , Cole, Thomas Catskills, Clove The

Background photograph by Francis Driscoll. Inset: Driscoll. Francis by photograph Background Opening spread: Opening

See Art History Come to Life on the on Life to Come History Art See

canvas, 14-3/4 by 12-1/2 in. Gift of Katherine French Rockwell. Rockwell. French Katherine of Gift in. 12-1/2 by 14-3/4 canvas,

Hours of Operation / Fees / Operation of Hours

, 1871 (detail). Oil on on Oil (detail). 1871 , Gifford, R. Sanford Kaaterskill Falls Kaaterskill Cover:

ART TRAIL ART

HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL RIVER HUDSON

can replace good judgment. good replace can

conditions and the activities you wish to pursue. No brochure No pursue. to wish you activities the and conditions

on the roads and trails, wear appropriate dress for the weather the for dress appropriate wear trails, and roads the on

A New Art Movement... For A New Nation caution Exercise safety. and actions own their for responsibility

hazardous. All participants in such activities must assume the assume must activities such in participants All hazardous.

Outdoor recreational activities are by their nature potentially nature their by are activities recreational Outdoor

In the early years of the 19th century, the fledgling The Hudson River School Art Trail pays homage to both the creative and the Trail. the on while sense common and caution use Please American nation was seeking a cultural identity apart from historical significance of the Hudson River School painters. Their work created not Trail Marked on Hiking Requires

Europe and a style of art that it could call its own. A group only an American art genre, but also a deeper appreciation for the nation’s natural Site Remote TRAIL SITES 5, 7, 8 7, 5, SITES TRAIL

of artists found the answer in the beauty and majesty of wonders, laying the groundwork for the environmental conservation movement and

Parking Area Parking

the natural world they encountered in the Hudson River National Park System. from Reachable Easily

Roadside Stop Roadside

Valley and created magnificent landscape paintings. 6 4, 3, SITES TRAIL The Hudson River School Art Trail enables you to walk in the footsteps of Thomas Shop Restrooms, Center, Visitor This movement, the first in American art, became known Thomas Cole, Falls of the Kaaterskill,

1826. Trail Site 5. Cole, Frederic Church, Asher B. Durand, Jasper Cropsey, Sanford Gifford and other Site Historic as the Hudson River School. 2 1, SITES TRAIL pioneering American landscape artists, and appreciate their work in an entirely new way.

The Hudson River School painters believed art to be an agent of moral and spiritual Legend: Map Trail transformation. In large-scale canvases of dramatic vistas with atmospheric lighting, Most of the stops on the trail are Frederic Church, Scene on Catskill Creek, visitwww.thomascole.org/trail.

they sought to capture a sense of the divine, envisioning the pristine American 1847. Trail Site 3. please Trail, Art School River Hudson the about more within 15 miles of Cedar Grove, learn To see. to want you sites the to visits your plan

landscape as a new The Thomas Cole National to you help will Directions and Map Trail The hike.

on foot and range from an easy walk to a fairly strenuous fairly a to walk easy an from range and foot on Garden of Eden. Historic Site. Located in Catskill, only reached be can others while car, by to get to easy

New York, this was the home and are stops the of Some area. wide fairly a over located

prepared to give it some time as the trail stops are are stops trail the as time some it give to prepared studio of Thomas Cole, acknowl- be but experience, rewarding and memorable a be will

edged founder of the movement. Trail Art School River Hudson the on sites the Seeing

distinctly American artistic identity. artistic American distinctly

Trail to the places that stimulated a stimulated that places the to Trail Wear comfortable shoes, Art School River Hudson the Follow open your eyes, and prepare Jasper Cropsey, Catskill Creek, 1850. Trail Site 6. to be inspired. Hudson River School Art Trail Trail Site Directions

Trail Site Begin your exploration at The artist Thomas Cole made his first trip up the Hudson River to Catskill in 1825. The resulting paintings created a sensation in the nascent Thomas Cole National Historic Site: 218 Spring Street, New York art world and launched the Hudson River School of art. These influential first paintings included a rendition of Kaaterskill Falls as well as Catskill, NY. Take NYS Thruway (I-87) to exit 21 (Catskill). Make a left at the traffic light, proceed 1,000 feet South Lake, both of which are included in this Trail. Thomas Cole’s home is now a National Historic Landmark and today provides an orientation and turn left onto Route 23 East. Proceed 2 miles and turn for your exploration of the Hudson River School Art Trail. Additional information and images can be found at www.thomascole.org/trail. right at the light onto Spring Street (Route 385). Cedar Grove is on the left (use shared driveway with Temple Israel).

Trail Site Trail Site Trail Site Trail Site Cedar Grove, The Thomas Cole National Historic Site The Olana State Historic Site View on the Catskill Creek Olana: From Trail Site 1, turn right out of the parking lot and immediately bear right onto Route 23 East. Go over the The Federal-style home and studio of Thomas Cole offers The home and workplace of Frederic Edwin Church, Just a few miles from his home, this scene inspired Rip Van Winkle Bridge and bear right onto Route 9G wonderful views, original paintings, period furnishings a former student of Thomas Cole and a leading Hudson Thomas Cole so much, he painted it more than South. Go one mile and turn left into Olana. and numerous Cole artifacts and memorabilia. River School artist. any other. Trail Site “O Cedar Grove! when’er I think to part Built high on a hill and offering panoramic vistas “The painter of American scenery has indeed View on Catskill Creek: From Trail Site 1 (Thomas Cole From thine all peaceful shades my aching heart of the Hudson River Valley, Church called Olana privileges superior to any other; all nature Site), turn right out of the parking lot and then immediately Is like to his who leaves some blessed shore “the center of the world.” The Persian-style house here is new to Art.” left onto Route 23 West. Go 1/2 mile and turn left onto A weeping exile ne’er to see it more.” and 250 acres of picturesque grounds are a masterpiece Thomas Cole, Route 9W South. Proceed 1000 feet on 9W, past the ramp Thomas Cole, 1834 as grand as any of his paintings. Journal entry, 1835 to Jefferson Heights. Park just before the bridge crossing Catskill Creek. The classic view of the creek can be seen from the bridge or from the property just before the bridge.

Trail Site Kaaterskill Clove: From Trail Site 3, continue on Route 9W South; proceed 1.3 miles to where Route 9W turns sharply left. Leave Route 9W and proceed straight ahead onto Route 23A. Continue eight miles to Palenville. Continue another 3-1/2 miles on Route 23A, climbing through historic Kaaterskill Clove, just past Bastion Falls to the trail access parking area on the left side of the road. A view of the Clove is available through a clearing in the trees on the south side of the lot.

Trail Site Charles Herbert Moore, Thomas Cole’s Cedar Grove, 1868. Frederic Church, Clouds over Olana, 1872. Thomas Cole, View on Catskill Creek, c. 1833. Kaaterskill Falls: Leave your car at the parking area for the previous stop (Trail Site 4). Proceed cautiously back along the highway downhill to the bridge at Bastion Falls. Trail Site Cross the bridge, turn left to exit the road and follow the Kaaterskill Clove trail to the right of the falls, which climbs up 1/2 mile to The Clove, a beautifully preserved area of the Catskills, the base of Kaaterskill Falls. Then return to the parking lot. NOTE: There is no maintained trail under the falls or to the was one of the places most painted by the Hudson top; attempts to climb there are dangerous and cause erosion. River School artists. “The peculiar fidelity and sentiment of nature with which Mountain Top Historical Society Durand always depicts trees, is eloquently manifest. The Historical Society’s campus includes an “Art Trail Interpretive Center” in the Visitor Center with an The aerial perspective, the gradations of light, the tints of exhibition of panels about the artists and locations on the foliage, the slope of the mountains – in a word, the whole trail. From Trail Site 3, turn left out of parking lot and scenic expression is harmonious, grand, tender and true.” proceed one mile. The Historical Society’s campus will be Henry T. Tuckerman, Book of the on the right as you enter the village of Haines Falls. Artists; American Artist Life, 1867 The next two stops are in North-South Lake Public Campground. A day-use fee is required, and the campground is open May-October only. (For exact dates please visit www.dec-campgrounds.com.)

Trail Site North-South Lake: From the Mountain Top Historical Society, turn right out of the driveway and proceed 1/5 of a mile up Route 23A. Turn right onto North Lake Road (County Route 18) and continue 2 miles to the gatehouse at North-South Lake Public Campground. Pay the entrance fee and request Campground and Trail Maps. Enter the Campground and bear left toward the North Lake Beach. At the stop sign turn right, drive down the hill and park in the small parking area near the Recreation Center. Follow Asher B. Durand, Kaaterskill Clove, 1866. the short level path directly across from the Recreation Center. Cole did his sketch for Lake with Dead Trees from the bank of South Lake, which is on the right about 250 Trail Site Trail Site Trail Site Trail Site feet down this path. Kaaterskill Falls North-South Lake Sunset Rock (also known as Bear’s Den) Catskill Mountain House Trail Site The Kaaterskill Falls were a favorite subject of many of the The extraordinary beauty of this site was the A prized location for its magnificent scenic views of the Although the majestic hotel no longer stands, the view Sunset Rock: Give yourself about two hours to enjoy this Hudson River School painters. To Thomas Cole, one of inspiration for many paintings by artists of the Hudson River Valley and North-South Lake. that attracted visitors still remains as one of the most foot trail that climbs a rocky incline, passes open views of the major elements in landscape painting was the waterfall. Hudson River School. breathtaking panoramas in the region. “…The view takes in both lakes, the Mountain House, the Hudson Valley, and ends at one of the most frequently painted views of the Hudson River School. From Trail Site “It is the voice of the landscape for it strikes its own chords, and “The most distinctive, and perhaps the most impressive South Mountain, High Peak and Round Top, the grand “Creation,...all creation...all that God had done, 6, drive back to North Lake Road, turn right and drive to rocks and mountains re-echo in rich unison.” characteristic of American scenery is its wildness.” basin formed by the curve of North Mountain and the or man could do....” the North Lake Beach parking area. The beach is to the west, Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, distant valley of the Hudson... By many this is thought – Natty Bumppo in James Fenimore Cooper’s novel a picnic area to the east. Walk east across the picnic area, Essay on American Scenery, 1835 Essay on American Scenery, 1835 to be the grandest combination of mountain scenery to and when you get to the fence at the ledge, go left. You The Pioneers (published in 1823, the same year the be met with here or elsewhere.” should soon see the blue trail markers of the Escarpment Catskill Mountain House opened), when asked, Walton Van Loan in his 1879 Trail. Sign the register, continue north another 500 feet and Catskill Mountain Guide “What see you when you get there?” begin a climb, which is the most difficult stretch of the hike. Go 1/4 mile to “Artist’s Rock,” which gives a sweeping view of the Hudson Valley. The trail then leaves the ledges, and in less than a half mile along the blue trail it meets a junction with a yellow trail toward “Sunset Rock.” In Cole’s day, this location was referred to as “Bear’s Den.” The twin lakes and the site of the former Catskill Mountain House are part of this breathtaking view. Return by retracing your steps.

Trail Site Catskill Mountain House: From the North Lake Beach parking area, walk down the short roadway at the far end of the parking lot toward the picnic pavilion and boat launch area. Turn left and walk away from the lake. The gated road on the right leads up a hill. Signs will direct you to the Mountain House site. About 1/5 of a mile.

Sanford Gifford, Falls of the Kaaterskill, 1871. Thomas Cole, Lake with Dead Trees, 1825. Jasper Cropsey, Catskill Mountain House, 1855. Frederic Church, Above the Clouds at Sunrise, 1849.