A Message From the Trustees
Dear Friends,
Not everyone knows that we operate as an independent non profit organization, receiving only 9% of our annual budget from the federal government. You heard that right! Even though we are a National Historic Site, it takes generous people like you to make up 91% of the income needed to open our doors.
Please join us in bringing art, history, beauty and joy to thousands of people every year. Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Board of Trustees, Thomas Cole National Historic Site
Happening Now
Grounds Open for Free Every Day
Give the Gift of Membership
Did you know a whole year of fun and free admission can fit inside a card? Order online now to give the gift of membership this holiday season.
January Sunday Salon
The Social Salon: A New Year Gathering
Sun, Jan 26
Join us in the new Cole Center building to kick off the New Year with a gathering of winter wreath-making and special Winter Time Tour. Enjoy custom sips inspired by the historic site from Stinging Nettle Apothecary and Left Bank Cider.
Guided Tours
Starting in January
Book a Sunday Guided Tour starting in January.
Tickets Coming Soon
February Sunday Salon
A Conversation with AD100 Designer Stephen Shadley
Sun, Feb 23
Learn how AD100 designer Stephen Shadley integrated the new Cole Center into the historic site and drew inspiration from Thomas Cole’s own architectural designs.
March Sunday Salon
Why Did Thomas Cole Paint a Second Voyage of Life?
With leading Cole Scholar Alan Wallach, PhD
Sun, Mar 16
In 1840, Thomas Cole completed his well-known, four-part series, The Voyage of Life. Two years later, while in Rome, he painted a second version. Until now, scholars have been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for Cole’s decision to execute a second Voyage of Life. In this talk, Alan Wallach will reveal the reasons why Cole painted his second version and why he chose to do so in Rome.
April Sunday Salon
The 2025 Cole Fellows’ Presentations
Sun, Apr 6
Be the first to hear new discoveries from the Class of 2025 Cole Fellows: Frances Baker-Tucker, Megan Betke, Cait Gurley, and Elizabeth Vazquez. Join a discussion of their year-long research projects at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site.
Thomas Cole Paintings on View
Spectacular original paintings by Thomas Cole are on view in the artist’s home this season.
Digital Immersive Experiences
Discover digital immersive experiences throughout the authentic historic interiors of the artist’s home. Experiences include paintings that come to life, audio soundscapes, letters that appear on desks and 270-degree floor-to-ceiling projections.
Collection Highlights
Browse our online Collection Highlights, a selection from over six hundred objects and two research archives. Many collection items are on view throughout the Cole Site interiors, in historic rooms, as well as within the rotating exhibition Mind Upon Nature: Thomas Cole’s Creative Process.
Digital Guide to the Museum
Explore the Site with a new, free digital guide featuring photos, videos, and audio from world-renowned contemporary artists and curators. The free guide was created as a part of Bloomberg Connects, the arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Hudson River School Art Trail
Step into a landscape painting with our program, the Hudson River School Art Trail, which provides maps and directions to visit the places in nature that Thomas Cole and other Hudson River School artists painted.
Walk along Catskill Creek
Visit the Mawignack Preserve – Cole’s favorite walking spot – just down the road and discover new outdoor interpretation organized by the Greene Land Trust in partnership with the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Greene County Historical Society, Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, and Scenic Hudson.
Visit Cole’s Gravesite
The gravestones of Thomas Cole, his wife Maria Bartow, and their family are located in the Catskill Village Cemetery, just down the street and walkable from the historic site.
Hudson River Skywalk
See America’s first canvas with a new scenic walkway connecting the Thomas Cole Site with Frederic Church’s Olana across the Hudson River.
Videos & Podcasts
Digital content presenting new perspectives from curators, artists, and community leaders on Thomas Cole’s life and art from the 19th century to today.
Teacher Resources
Programs, lesson plans and activities for K-12 students that use American art to teach American history.
Virtual Gallery
Explore Thomas Cole’s paintings and writings with scholar analysis on our website explorethomascole.org.
Thomas Cole’s Story
Read Thomas Cole’s Story by the Penguin Random House author and illustrator Hudson Talbott.
Each year, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site presents special exhibitions of historic and contemporary art that debut here and travel the country. Browse past exhibitions.
What other art will you see on a visit? Browse Thomas Cole paintings on view and Collection Highlights.
The Thomas Cole Site programs and operations are supported by the National Park Service, Warner Foundation, David Bury and The Bay & Paul Foundations, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Enoch Foundation, The Educational Foundation of America, KHR Family Fund, Brown Foundation, The J. M. Kaplan Fund, Tianaderrah Foundation, and the Kindred Spirits Society of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site.
Programs and operations are also supported by a grant awarded to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site by New York State’s Empire State Development and the I LOVE NY Division of Tourism.
The Program Endowment that supports educational programs at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this the programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
