at the Thomas Cole Site

FREDERIC CHURCH 200 is a program launched by The Olana Partnership to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederic Church. A student of Thomas Cole, Church was one of America’s greatest artists and a legendary figure in landscape painting. Thomas Cole (1801–1848) taught Frederic Church (1826–1900) from 1844 to 1846. During that period, they often sketched together on the hill where Church later chose to build his home, Olana.

 Thomas Doughty’s Approaching Storm: A Gift to the Cole House; a Goad to Thomas Cole?  with Kevin Avery, Ph.D.

Sun, Apr 19

Thomas Cole: An American Visionary with Alan Wallach, Ph.D., and Nancy Siegel, Ph.D.

Sat, Apr 25

Join esteemed art historians and Hudson River School scholars, Alan Wallach and Nancy Siegel, for an Opening Conversation on Thomas Cole’s enduring legacy and profound impact on American art in the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

This program is in commemoration of the opening of the new Richard Sharp Gallery and exhibition, Thomas Cole: An American Visionary.

Thomas Cole: An American Visionary

Sat, Apr 25

Celebrate the opening of the new Richard Sharp Gallery and exhibition, Thomas Cole: An American Visionary, with art, sips, and good friends from 4–6 pm. All are welcome, but we hope that you will consider becoming a member.

Exhibition Tour of Thomas Cole: An American Visionary

Fri, May 1

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a guided tour of the new exhibition, Thomas Cole: An American Visionary.

Fri, May 1

Be the first to hear new discoveries from the Class of 2026 Cole Fellows, Maya Junkins and Peyton Masilun, during a discussion of their year-long research projects at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site.

Create Your Own Color Wheel

Sat, May 9

Make your own wood-stained color wheel inspired by Thomas Cole’s painting, Diagram of Contrasts, and tour the historic Main House and new exhibition, Thomas Cole: An American Visionary, in the newly opened Richard Sharp Gallery. Teachers can enjoy a discounted workshop for Teacher Appreciation Day!

Sun, May 17 | 3–5 pm

Celebrate the life of Hudson Talbott, the longest-serving trustee of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, beloved community leader, and celebrated author and illustrator.

Diagram of Contrasts by Thomas Cole

Thurs, May 21

Take a closer look at Thomas Cole’s Diagram of Contrasts during a guided close-looking session in the new Richard Sharp Gallery on the second floor of the 1815 Main House. Museum admission is included with tickets.

Thomas Cole and American Wilderness with William L. Coleman, Ph.D.

Sun, May 31

Join William L. Coleman, inaugural Wyeth Foundation Director of the Wyeth Study Center, for a discussion on Thomas Cole and American Wilderness.

Collection Highlights

Fri, Jun 5

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a tour of the Thomas Cole Site collections.

Thomas Cole 101: An In-Depth Introduction to the Art of Thomas Cole with Alan Wallach, Ph.D.

Mon, Jun 8–Fri, Jun 12

Join art historian and Cole scholar Alan Wallach, Ph.D., for a five-day seminar all about Thomas Cole, examining Cole’s career as a painter of American and European landscapes and of historical and religious allegories. The daily half-day sessions will run from 10 am–12:30 pm. Advance registration is required; please enroll by June 1.

Create Your Own Mineral Box

Sat, Jun 13

Join museum education staff to construct your own handmade curio container for trinkets and found objects. Participants will tour the historic Main House to view Thomas Cole’s Box of Minerals and Artifacts in the newly opened Richard Sharp Gallery. Learn about 19th century collecting practices, followed by making in the Storehouse.

Black Labor & Legacy at the Historic Property

Sun, Jun 14

Explore the historic property with a Museum Educator to learn about the often-hidden experiences of labor on the historic property, different perspectives on land, anti-Black policies, and the ways in which Black Catskill residents mobilized and formed abolitionist circles in the 19th century.

Thomas Cole’s Mineral Collection

Thurs, Jun 18

Take a closer look at Thomas Cole’s Mineral Collection during a guided close-looking session in the new Richard Sharp Gallery on the second floor of the 1815 Main House. Museum admission is included with tickets.

Circles of Influence: Thomas Cole and the American Landscape Movement

Sat, Jun 20

Celebrate the opening of the new exhibition, Circles of Influence: Thomas Cole and the American Landscape Movement, in the historic Library Gallery with art, sips, and good friends from 4–6 pm. All are welcome, but we hope that you will consider becoming a member.

Cynthia Daignault: Light Atlas

Sat, Jun 20

Celebrate the opening of the new exhibition, Cynthia Daignault: Light Atlas, in the 1846 New Studio with art, sips, and good friends from 4–6 pm. All are welcome, but we hope that you will consider becoming a member.

Sat, Jun 27

Join us for cocktails, dinner, and a paddle raise auction. The three historic buildings and exhibitions will be open for you to explore. We’re looking forward to a magnificent evening with you here on the beautiful historic campus in Catskill.

Exhibition Tour of Cynthia Daignault’s Light Atlas

Fri, Jul 3

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a guided tour of the special exhibition Light Atlas by Cynthia Daignault.

Jul 6–10, Jul 20–24, Aug 10–14, Aug 17–21

Cole’s Art Camp welcomes children ages 6–11 for 5-day summer program sessions exploring the home and landscape where Thomas Cole made art! Children will experience the museum galleries and artist studios, play in the flower gardens, work together to make an exhibition, and create art inspired by the natural world around us in the Storehouse Activity Space. Choose one or more from four landscape-themed sessions: Trees, Clouds, Pollinators, and Mountains.

Pressed-Flower Votives with Julie H. Goon

Sat, Jul 11

Decorate your own recycled-glass candle jar with locally sourced pressed flowers for your home.

Thomas Cole’s Herbaria

Thurs, Jul 16

Take a closer look at Thomas Cole’s Herbaria during a guided close-looking session in the new Richard Sharp Gallery on the second floor of the 1815 Main House. Museum admission is included with tickets.

Catwalk Artists-in-Residence

Sun, Jul 26

Join the Thomas Cole Site and Catwalk Institute’s artists-in-residence for art installations and performances.

Tickets Coming Soon

Exhibition Tour of Circles of Influence: Thomas Cole and the American Landscape Movement

Fri, Aug 7

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a tour of the special exhibition Circles of Influence: Thomas Cole and the American Landscape Movement.

Summer Plant Dyes with Museum Educators

Sat, Aug 8

Create natural dyes out of seasonal flowers and plants inspired by natural dye methods of the 19th century to dye your own cotton handkerchiefs, ribbons, or fabric. While dyes are simmering, participants can enjoy a tour of the historic artist studio and Main House.

Thomas Cole’s Painting Tools

Thurs, Aug 20

Take a closer look at Thomas Cole’s painting tools during a guided close-looking session in the new Richard Sharp Gallery on the second floor of the 1815 Main House. Museum admission is included with tickets.

Sun, Aug 23

Join us for a free, outdoor Summer Festival on the grounds, hands-on garden activities, special tours, and more.

Tour Tickets Coming Soon

Collection Highlights

Fri, Sept 4

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a tour of the Thomas Cole Site collections.

Artist Lecture with Cynthia Daignault

Sun, Sept 13

Join artist Cynthia Daignault for a discussion about her artwork, Light Atlas.

Catskill Mountain Landscape by Thomas Cole and The Catskill Creek by Frederic Church

Thurs, Sept 17

Take a closer look at Thomas Cole’s Catskill Mountain Landscape and Frederic Church’s The Catskill Creek during a guided close-looking session in the new Richard Sharp Gallery on the second floor of the 1815 Main House. Museum admission is included with tickets.

Exhibition Tour of Cynthia Daignault’s Light Atlas

Fri, Oct 2

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a guided tour of the special exhibition Light Atlas by Cynthia Daignault.

Nature, Music, Joy, and Loss: Thomas Cole’s The Pic-Nic Party as Elegy with Terry Carbone, Ph.D.

Sun, Oct 4

Join art historian Terry Carbone, Ph.D., for a discussion about Thomas Cole’s The Pic-Nic Party.

Study for Voyage of Life: Manhood by Thomas Cole

Thurs, Oct 15

Take a closer look at Thomas Cole’s Study for Voyage of Life: Manhood during a guided close-looking session in the new Richard Sharp Gallery on the second floor of the 1815 Main House. Museum admission is included with tickets.

Exhibition Tour of Thomas Cole: An American Visionary

Fri, Nov 6

Join Amanda Malmstrom, Thomas Cole Site Associate Curator, for a tour of the special exhibition, Thomas Cole: An American Visionary.

Graham C. Boettcher, Ph.D.

Sun, Nov 22

Join Graham C. Boettcher, Ph.D., R. Hugh Daniel Director & CEO Birmingham Museum of Art for a lecture on Thomas Cole’s impact on American identity and art.

Thomas Cole and Connecticut: A Closer Look with Erin Monroe, Curator

Sun, Dec 13

Join Erin Monroe, Krieble Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, for a lecture on how time spent in Connecticut profoundly shaped the early works of Thomas Cole and his Connecticut-born protégé, Frederic Church.