Press Releases

2024 Season

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces “Native Prospects: Indigeneity and Landscape” – A New Exhibition, Opening on May 4. 

The Exhibition of Historic and Contemporary Art and Cultural Artifacts Juxtaposes an Indigenous Approach to the Articulation of Land with the American Landscape Paintings of Thomas Cole

Catskill, NYFebruary 27, 2024 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that a new exhibition titled “Native Prospects: Indigeneity and Landscape”, curated by Scott Manning Stevens, PhD / Karoniaktatsie (Akwesasne Mohawk), will open on May 4 at the historic site in Catskill, NY. The exhibition juxtaposes…. Read the Release.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces Pop-Up Exhibition and Book with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s School of Architecture

The Project “Imaginary Wilds: Architectural Interventions for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site” Presents Imaginary Designs for the Museum Campus that Address Real and Ideal Relationships Between Architecture and Landscape

Catskill, New York – February 13, 2024 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the upcoming pop-up exhibition and book Imaginary Wilds: Architectural Interventions for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s School of Architecture. The exhibition will open on March 9 and run through April 7, 2024…. Read the Release.

Announcing the 2024 Sunday Salons, the 21st Annual Speaker Series Presented by the Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Speakers Include the First Curator of Native American Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rising Scholars from Princeton and the Cole Fellows Program, and RPI Architecture Reimagines the Museum Campus

Catskill, New York – Monday, January 8 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the 2024 Sunday Salon speakers for the 21st annual series. The Sunday Salons present engaging speakers on new ideas in American art once a month from January through April…. Read the Release.

2023 Season

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Opening of the Two-Part Exhibition “Women Reframe American Landscape”

The Show Reinserts 19th-Century Artist Susie Barstow into the History of Landscape Painting and Presents Contemporary Artists Who Expand and Challenge “Land” And “Landscape” Today

Catskill, NY – May 10, 2023 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the opening of the two-part exhibition Women Reframe American Landscape: Susie Barstow & Her Circle/ Contemporary Practices, which will run through October 29, 2023. It will subsequently travel…Read the Release. 

WMHT Launches Multiplatform Series Exploring the History of New York and the Nation During the Lifespan of Thomas Cole

Reframing an Empire acknowledges Cole’s paintings as a timeless treasure of the Catskills, and explores the people and context that extend beyond his canvas

Albany, NY – May 4, 2023 – WMHT Public Media, a multichannel public communications organization serving Eastern New York and Western New England, today announced the launch of its latest multiplatform project, Reframing an Empire, which explores the history of New York state and the nation during the lifespan of noted landscape painter Thomas Cole. … Read the Release.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Exhibition “Women Reframe American Landscape”

The Show Reinserts 19th-Century Artist Susie Barstow into the History of Landscape Painting and Presents Contemporary Artists Who Expand and Challenge “Land” and “Landscape” Today

Catskill, NY – February 7, 2023 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the upcoming exhibition Women Reframe American Landscape: Susie Barstow & Her Circle / Contemporary Practices. It will open on May 6 and run through October 29, 2023. It will subsequently travel to the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, CT, from November 16, 2023 to March 31, 2024. … Read the Release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site to Receive Grant Award from the National Endowment for the Arts to Support New Exhibition “Women Reframe American Landscape”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Commends the Thomas Cole Site

Catskill, NY – January 19, 2023 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000. … Read the Release.

2022 Season

Announcing the 2023 Sunday Salon Speakers and Winter Sunday Tours  

This Year Marks the 20th Year of the Signature Speaker Series hosted by the Thomas Cole National Historic Site 2004-2023 

Catskill, NY – December 12, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the 2023 Sunday Salon speakers on new ideas in American art and the accompanying Sunday Tours. … Read the Release.

Empire State Development Announces Groundbreaking of $1.8 million visitor center and infrastructure improvements at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill

Project at National Historic Site in Greene County will Support Regional Tourism Economy

Catskill, NY – November 15, 2022 – Empire State Development (ESD) today celebrated the groundbreaking of the $1.8 million Master Plan, with a new visitor center as its centerpiece, at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, located in the village of Catskill, Greene County. The new 1,800 square foot visitor center, to be named The Cole Center, will serve.. …Read the Release

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces Completion of New Digital Education Prototype, A Program of the Jack Warner Gateway to Learning

The Free Digital Experience is Designed to Teach the Curriculum and is Being Piloted with Regional Teachers and Students for User Feedback

Catskill, NY – September 28, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the completion of a new digital education prototype, a program of the Jack Warner Gateway to Learning: Exploring American History Through American Art.. … Read the Release

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Opening of a New Exhibition: “Marc Swanson: A Memorial to Ice at the Dead Deer Disco”

The Exhibition Draws Inspiration from Thomas Cole and is a Companion to the Show of the Same Name at MASS MoCA

Catskill, NY – July 19, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the opening of a
new exhibition – “Marc Swanson: A Memorial to Ice at the Dead Deer Disco” that will run through November 2022. … Read the Release

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Opening of a New Exhibition: “Thomas Cole’s Studio: Memory and Inspiration” Curated by Franklin Kelly, Senior Curator of the National Gallery of Art.

The Exhibition Reassembles the Paintings That Were in Cole’s Studio When He Died in 1848 and Explores the Significance of Cole’s Late Work for Art in America.

Catskill, NY – May 5, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Opening of a New
Exhibition: “Thomas Cole’s Studio: Memory and Inspiration” Curated by Franklin Kelly, Senior Curator of the National Gallery of Art. … Read the Release

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Publishes Thomas Cole’s Journal, Never Before Available in Print

The Journal, Which Cole Entitled Thoughts & Occurrences, Exposes the Inner Workings and Private Thoughts of the Seminal American Artist and a New Window into Art, Politics, and Family Dynamics in 19th Century America

Catskill, NY – April 14, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it has transcribed and published Thomas Cole’s private journal, making this primary source document available to the public for the first time. … Read the release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Receives $50,000 from National Trust for Historic Preservation to Help Tell the Full American Story

$2.5 Million Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities Through the American Rescue Plan

Catskill, NY – April 7, 2022 – At a news conference today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Telling the Full History Preservation Fund announced its award of $50,000 to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The grant is one of 80 given to select organizations nationwide with projects that help preserve, interpret, and activate historic places to tell the stories of underrepresented groups in our nation. … Read the release.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces a New Exhibition: “Marc Swanson: A Memorial to Ice at the Dead Deer Disco”

The Exhibition Draws Inspiration from Thomas Cole and is a Companion to the Show of the Same Name at MASS MoCA

Catskill, NY – March 8, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that the exhibition “Marc Swanson: A Memorial to Ice at the Dead Deer Disco” will open on July 16 and run through November 27, 2022. The exhibition is a companion to the show on view at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA, that runs from March 12, 2022, through January 1, 2023. Both exhibitions are curated by Denise Markonish, Senior Curator and Director of Exhibitions at MASS MoCA. … Read the release.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces a New Exhibition: “Thomas Cole’s Studio: Memory and Inspiration” Curated by Franklin Kelly, Senior Curator of the National Gallery of Art.

The Exhibition Reassembles the Paintings That Were in Cole’s Studio When He Died in 1848 and Explores the Significance of Cole’s Late Work for Art in America.

Catskill, NY – February 23, 2022 – Thomas Cole was already the most famous landscape painter in America when he died unexpectedly at the age of 47 in February 1848. His legacy continues to influence American art to this day, and a new exhibition “Thomas Cole’s Studio: Memory and Inspiration” explores the creative directions of the painter’s last years, the rich and diverse group of works left in his studio at his death, and how his example so powerfully affected the evolution of art in America. … Read the release. 

The Thomas Cole Site’s Annual “Sunday Salons” Series Returns for its Nineteenth Year on Sunday, January 30

The Series Presents Timely Conversations on American Art and Landscape with Artists, Writers, Community Members, Scholars, and the Next Generation of Leaders in the Field

Catskill, NY – January 13, 2022 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site’s annual “Sunday Salons” series returns for its nineteenth year. … Read the release.

2021 Season

In its 20th Anniversary Year, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces a Major New York State Grant Award of $360,000 to Implement the Site’s Master Infrastructure Plan

Catskill, NY – November 30, 2021 – As it celebrates 20 years of being open to the public, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a major grant award of. … Read the release.

Thomas Cole Site and Olana Take “Cross Pollination” Beyond the Galleries

Catskill and Hudson, NY – August 19, 2021 – The Olana Partnership at Olana State Historic Site and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site are engaging the public in a series of events in the Hudson Valley that expand on their current collaborative exhibition, “Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment,” which runs through October 31. … Read the release.

Major Collaborative Exhibition “Cross Pollination” Opens at Olana State Historic Site and Thomas Cole National Historic Site in New York’s Hudson River Skywalk Region

Contemporary Art, Acclaimed 19th-Century Paintings, and Ecology Collide in this Examination of the Artist Martin Johnson Heade’s Series of Hummingbird Paintings, The Gems of Brazil (1863-64), and Their Unique Relationship to the Epic Landscapes of Hudson River School Artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, as well as Their Continued Significance to Contemporary Artists Working Today.

Co-Organized by the two Historic Sites in New York and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, the Exhibition Features Work by Contemporary Artists Including Nick Cave, Mark Dion, Jeffrey Gibson, Paula Hayes, Patrick Jacobs, Maya Lin, Dana Sherwood, Jean Shin, Rachel Sussman, and Vik Muniz.

Catskill and Hudson, NY – June 14, 2021 – The Olana Partnership, Olana State Historic Site, and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the opening of “Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment” at the two historic sites … Read the release.

Summer of Pollination to Unfold at Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Olana State Historic Site in the Hudson Valley

The Season-Long Celebration Offers Activities That Explore the Dynamic of Pollination and Expand on the Landmark Collaborative Exhibition “Cross Pollination” Opening June 12

Catskill and Hudson, NY – June 3, 2021 – The Olana Partnership, Olana State Historic Site, and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today than an entire “Summer of Pollination” will unfold at the two historic sites… Read the release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Named Finalist for 2021 IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Catskill, N.Y. —March 18, 2021— The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that the Thomas Cole National Historic Site is a… Read the release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces “Spring Lights,” A New Outdoor Nighttime Walk-Through Public Program in Catskill, New York, Inspired by the Artist Thomas Cole (1801- 1848) and His Love of Nature.

The New Experience Includes a Building-Wide Projection by Contemporary Artist Brian Kenny and Immersive Light & Sound Environments Designed by Clerestory Light, a leading “Son et Lumière” Creative Agency. The Experience Features Audio of Thomas Cole’s Writing, Brought to Life by the Film Actor Jamie Bell.

Thanks to Underwriter Support, the Ticketed Experience Includes Free Community Fridays Starting Friday, April 16.

Catskill, NY – Wednesday, March 17 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a new outdoor nighttime walk-through public program called “Spring Lights”… Read the release.

Contemporary Art, Acclaimed 19th-Century Paintings, and Ecology Collide at the Opening of a Major Collaborative Exhibition “Cross Pollination” in June at both the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Olana State Historic Site in New York’s Hudson River Skywalk Region

The National Project was Conceived in the Hudson Valley and Stems from the Artist Martin Johnson Heade’s 19th-Century Series of Hummingbird Paintings, The Gems of Brazil, and Their Unique Relationship to the Epic Landscapes of Hudson River School Artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, as well as Their Continued Significance to Contemporary Artists Working Today.

Co-Organized by the two Historic Sites in New York and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, the Exhibition will also Feature Work by Contemporary Artists Including Nick Cave, Mark Dion, Jeffrey Gibson, Paula Hayes, Patrick Jacobs, Maya Lin, Dana Sherwood, Jean Shin, Rachel Sussman, and Vik Muniz.

Catskill and Hudson, NY March 1, 2021 – The Olana Partnership, Olana State Historic Site, and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that “Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment” will open on June 12 at the two historic sites – the only opportunity to see the unique presentation of the exhibition in New York, in the landscapes and historic spaces that so dramatically influenced and continue to influence the evolution of art in America. For the first time… Read the release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Awarded Two Prestigious Federal Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowments for the Arts

The National Awards will Support the Site’s New Digital Education Initiative using American Art to Teach American History and its World-Class Special Exhibition in 2022 with a Guest Curator from the National Gallery of Art

Catskill, NY – February 22, 2021 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it has been awarded two federal grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowments for the Arts (NEA). The highly competitive national awards support… Read the release.

The Thomas Cole Site’s Annual “Sunday Salons” Series Returns for its Eighteenth Year on Sunday, January 17, Reimagined to Stream Live Online

The Series of Talks Presents Leading Thinkers on Timely Topics Related to American Art and Landscape

Catskill, NY – January 11, 2021 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site’s annual “Sunday Salons” series returns for its eighteenth year this Sunday, January 17 at 2 pm. Read the release.

2020 Season

Four-State Initiative Launches Major Exhibition “Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment” – Exploring Cross Pollination in Art and Nature from 19th Century to Today

Thomas Cole National Historic Site in New York, The Olana Partnership at Olana State Historic Site in New York, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas Announce their Collaborative Exhibition and Multiple Events Coinciding with the Opening at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville, FL, Followed by Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, NC

The Exhibition and Accompanying Book Feature Artist Martin Johnson Heade’s 19th-Century Series of Hummingbird and Habitat Paintings, The Gems of Brazil, Related Rarely Seen Paintings by Hudson River School Artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church and Their Daughters Emily and Isabel, and Major Related Works by Leading Contemporary Artists

Hudson & Catskill, NY and Bentonville, AR October 22, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Olana, and Crystal Bridges Museum of Art announced today a four-state initiative to launch the major exhibition “Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment.” Read the release. 

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Gift of a Thomas Cole Masterpiece from Susan Warner, Chairman of the Board of the Warner Foundation The Painting – One of Thomas Cole’s Earliest – Will be the Focus of an October 20 Virtual Lecture by the Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art

Catskill, NY – October 8, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the gift of a Thomas Cole masterpiece from Susan Warner, Chairman of the Board of the Warner Foundation, founded by the late, legendary art collector Jack Warner. The painting… Read the release. 

Announcing Premiere Virtual Screening of Short Film Interviewing Acclaimed Contemporary Artist Shi Guorui. The Event Will Include a Live Q & A with the Artist and Thomas Cole Site Curator Kate Menconeri.

The Virtual Screening Will Take Place on Tuesday, September 22, on the One Year Anniversary of the Opening of Shi Guorui’s Solo Exhibition at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and his Performance Artwork “1.7 Mile Lights.”

 Shi Guorui is Internationally Celebrated for his Large-Scale Camera Obscura Photographs. He Created a New Body of Work for his 2019 Solo Exhibition at the Thomas Cole Site That Pays Homage to Thomas Cole (1801-1848), Founder of American Landscape Painting.

Catskill, NY – Sept 10, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a premiere virtual screening event for a short film interviewing the acclaimed contemporary artist Shi Guorui. Read the release. 

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces New Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station, the First in Catskill, NY, To Complete Phase 1 of Site-Wide Greening Initiative 

The Greening Initiative Carries on the Proto-Environmentalist Legacy of the Artist Thomas Cole (1801-1848). The EV Charger was Supported by a Generous Individual Gift.

Catskill, NY – Aug 18, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a new public electric vehicle charging station installed in the parking lot at the historic site in Catskill, New York. Read the release. 

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Opening of “The Pollinator Pavilion” – A New Public Artwork by Internationally Renowned Contemporary Artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood 

“The Pollinator Pavilion” Provides a Fantastical Architectural Setting that Offers Miraculous Moments in which Individuals can Encounter Hummingbirds while Exploring a Nurturing Relationship with Nature  

Catskill, NY – August 11, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the opening of The Pollinator Pavilion, a new outdoor architectural sculpture designed specifically for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site by internationally acclaimed artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. Click here for full press release. 

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces “The Pollinator Pavilion” – A New Public Artwork by Internationally Renowned Contemporary Artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood 

The Pollinator Pavilion Provides a Fantastical Architectural Setting That Offers Miraculous Moments in Which Individuals Can Encounter Hummingbirds While Exploring a Nurturing Relationship with Nature 

Catskill, NY – July 28, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it will unveil on Friday, August 7, The Pollinator Pavilion, a new outdoor architectural sculpture designed specifically for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site by internationally acclaimed artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. Combining their well-known practice of making site-specific installations and their fascination with nature, the interactive artwork is a fantastical architectural setting in which individuals can share miraculous moments with pollinators while exploring a nurturing relationship with nature. Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Launches a New Way to Visit with Outdoor Explore Kits and Timed Pick-Ups

Outdoor Explore Kits are Free for Schoolchildren and their Families as Part of the Site’s Diversity, Equity and Access Initiative 

Catskill, NY – July 6, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is now offering a new and innovative way to visit the historic site located in the Village of Catskill. Visitors can pick up a packet of information and supplies to enjoy a self-guided hour-long visit to the historic grounds and building exteriors…Click here for full press release.

Major Collaborative Exhibition Organized by the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and The Olana Partnership at Olana State Historic Site in New York and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas Rescheduled to September 2020 through March 2022. It Will Show at a Total of Five National Venues.

The Exhibition Explores the Theme of “Cross Pollination” and Communities Working Together in Art and Nature from the 19th Century to the Contemporary Moment.

The National Project Stems from the Artist Martin Johnson Heade’s 19th-Century Series of Hummingbird and Habitat Paintings, The Gems of Brazil, and their Unique Relationship to the Epic Landscapes of Hudson River School Artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, as well as their Continued Significance to Contemporary Artists Working Today.

Hudson & Catskill, NY, and Bentonville, AR – May 28, 2020 – Olana, Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced today the new dates for the major exhibition, “Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment”…Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole’s Role as a Proto-Environmentalist is Featured in National Geographic’s Special Issue for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

Cole is Highlighted Both for His Painting and His Writing

Catskill, NY – April 9, 2020 – Thomas Cole’s role as an early environmental advocate – termed a proto-environmentalist because he preceded the modern environmental movement – is featured in National Geographic’s…Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Publishes, for the First Time, Cole’s Lecture on Art — on the 175th Anniversary of its Writing

In the Lecture, Cole Makes the Case for Public Art Available to Every Citizen — With Drawing Taught in Every School

Catskill, NY – March 31, 2020 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it has published, for the first time…Click here for full press release.

Major Collaborative Exhibition to Open in May at Thomas Cole National Historic Site and the Olana State Historic Site, Exploring the Theme of “Cross Pollination” in Art and the Environment from the 19th Century to the Contemporary Moment.

The National Project Stems from the Artist Martin Johnson Heade’s 19th-Century Series of Hummingbird and Habitat Paintings, The Gems of Brazil, and their Unique Relationship to the Epic Landscapes of Hudson River School Artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, as well as their Continued Significance to Contemporary Artists Working Today.

Co-Organized by the Two Historic Sites in New York and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, the Major Exhibition Will Also Feature Work by Contemporary Artists Including Nick Cave, Mark Dion, Jeffrey Gibson, Paula Hayes, Patrick Jacobs, Maya Lin, Dana Sherwood, Rachel Sussman,
and Vik Muniz.

Catskill and Hudson, NY–February 27, 2020 — Olana and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that they will co-host a major exhibition … Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Receives $180,000 Grant from Henry Luce Foundation to Complete Phase III of Restoration of the Artist’s Home

Phase III Will Unveil a Major New Discovery: Decorative Wall Painting in a First-Floor Room That Research Suggests Was Cole’s Home Art Gallery

Catskill, NY–February 3, 2020 — The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that the Henry Luce Foundation has awarded it a grant of $180,000 to complete… Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces 2020 “Sunday Salons” Lecture Series

The Series Presents Leading National Scholars Discussing Major Topics on American Art and Landscape

Catskill, NY–January 9, 2020 — The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the schedule for its 2020 “Sunday Salons” lecture series. The series presents… Click here for full press release.

2019 Season

Leading Thomas Cole Scholar Alan Wallach, Ph.D., will Deliver the 14th Annual Raymond Beecher Lecture Hosted by the Thomas Cole National Historic Site.

Dr. Wallach Will Explore Cole’s Course of Empire Series and How it Embodies the Concern for the Future of the United States

Catskill, NY–November 5, 2019 — The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that its 14th Annual Raymond Beecher Lecture will be delivered… Click here for full press release.

Acclaimed Artist Shi Guorui Will Present an Artist Talk in His Studio in Catskill,
NY, on Sunday, October 27

Catskill, NY–September 30, 2019 — Acclaimed artist Shi Guorui will present an Artist Talk organized by the Thomas Cole National Historic Site at his studio in Catskill, NY, on
Sunday, October 27. The talk accompanies … Click here for full press release.

“SHI GUORUI: Ab/Sense-Pre/Sense” Opens at Thomas Cole National Historic SiteExhibition Unveils Large-Scale Landscape Photographs by Acclaimed

Contemporary Artist Shi Guorui, Created by Converting 20-Foot Box Truck into Camera Obscura

Photographs Pay Homage to Thomas Cole (1801-1848), Founder of American Landscape Painting

Catskill, NY–September 23, 2019 — The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a new series of Outdoor Art Workshops at the historic site offered to the community for free … Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole Historic Site Announces New Outdoor Art Workshops for Children and Visitors of all Ages. The Creative Workshops are Free at the Historic Site in Catskill, NY.

Catskill, NY–August 6, 2019– A solo exhibition of new work by acclaimed contemporary artist Shi Guorui opened yesterday at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The show will be on view through …Click here for full press release.

Acclaimed Contemporary Artist Shi Guorui Converts 20-Foot Box Truck into Camera Obscura, Creating 15-foot Landscape Photographs in Homage to Thomas Cole (1801-1848), Founder of American Landscape Painting

Solo Exhibition “SHI GUORUI: Ab/Sense-Pre-Sense” to be Presented from September 22, 2019 to December 1, 2019, at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Catskill, NY–July 17, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that a solo exhibition of new work by acclaimed contemporary artist Shi Guorui will be presented … Click here for full press release.

New Study Reveals that the Annual Economic Impact of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site Totals $2.28 Million – an Increase of 73% in Eight Years.

Catskill, NY–June 18, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the results of a study that shows that its economic impact on the local economy is $2,280,912 annually. That total… Click here for full press release.

New Decorative Painting by Thomas Cole Uncovered on the Walls of his 1815 Home in Catskill, New York.

Discovery Reveals Significant Further Impact of Cole’s Journey to England and Italy (1829-1832), which was the focus of the 2018 Exhibition Thomas Cole’s Journey at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and The National Gallery in London.

Catskill, NY–June 10, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the discovery of new decorative painting, long hidden by subsequent layers of modern paint, on the walls of a first-floor room in the artist’s home. The discovery offers new insight… Click here for full press release.

The Ribbon Cutting of the Hudson River Skywalk, a New Scenic Walkway where American Landscape Painting Began, Will Take Place on Saturday, June 1 at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge Riverfront Park in Catskill, NY.

The Opening Day Festivities will Kick Off with a Parade of Paintings from the Thomas Cole Site and Frederic Church’s Olana Coming Together at the Bridge over the Hudson River.

Catskill, NY–May 29, 2019– The Olana State Historic Site and Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the ribbon cutting of the Hudson River Skywalk, a new scenic walkway at the place where American landscape painting began. Join in the community in celebrating… Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole’s Refrain: The Paintings of Catskill Creek – a New Exhibition Now Open at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site – Explores, for the First Time as a Series, Cole’s Extraordinary Paintings of the Captivating Catskill Creek Landscape, Created Over 18 Years.

Cole painted Catskill Creek more than any other landscape, elevating a local scene to an iconic American image. The exhibition reveals the importance of this specific place to Cole’s pioneering commitment to the environment.

Catskill, NY–May 7, 2019– Thomas Cole’s Refrain: The Paintings of Catskill Creek – a new exhibition at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site –  explores, for the first time as a series, Cole’s extraordinary Catskill Creek landscapes, which he created again and again during 1827 to 1845 – virtually the whole course of his mature career… Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole Historic Site Announces a Spring Series of Outdoor Art Workshops for Children and Visitors of All Ages at the Historic Site. The Workshops are Free and Designed to Inspire Creativity.

Catskill, NY–April 15, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a series of Outdoor Art Workshops at the historic site offered to the community for free. Children and their families and visitors of all ages are invited to join… Click here for full press release.

In Celebration of Women’s History Month, the Thomas Cole NHS Presents The Art of Emily Cole, the First Exhibition of Her Work in Over a Century

Daughter of Iconic Landscape Painter Thomas Cole, Emily was the Only One if His Children to Become an Artist

Catskill, NY–February 19, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that the exhibition The Art of Emily Cole will open on March 2 in celebration of Women’s History Month. The project marks the first solo exhibition of Emily’s artwork on both paper and porcelain, revealing her exquisitely painted botanicals… Click here for full press release.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Exhibition Thomas Cole’s Refrain: The Paintings of Catskill Creek Featuring Masterworks by Cole from Major Museums as well as Rarely Seen Paintings from Private Collections

The Exhibition will Reveal the Deeper Meaning of Cole’s Catskill Creek Paintings, Considered for the First Time as an Integral Series

Catskill, NY–January 29, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that the exhibition Thomas Cole’s Refrain: The Paintings of Catskill Creek will open on May 4 in collaboration with Cornell University Press and the Hudson River Museum, with related programming in partnership with Scenic Hudson and Greene Land Trust… Click here for full press release.

Thomas Cole Site Announces the 2019 Sunday Salons Bringing Today’s Leaders in American Art to Thomas Cole’s New Studio in Catskill, New York

Catskill, NY–January 3, 2019– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the 16th annual Sunday Salons lecture series, bringing leaders in American art to Thomas Cole’s New Studio in Catskill, New York, once a month from January through April…Click here for full press release.

2018 Season

December 11, 2018

Thomas Cole Site is Now Acceptiong 2019-2020 Cole Fellowship Applications. The Fellowship is an Annual Program Developing the Next Generation of Leaders in American Art

Catskill, NY–December 11, 2018– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it is now accepting applications for the annual Cole Fellowship, a one-year, residential fellowship at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, New York…Click here for full press release.

October 1, 2018

Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson, To Deliver The Thomas Cole Site’s 13th Annual Raymond Beecher Lecture On October 14 In The Hudson River Skywalk Region

Catskill, NY–October 1, 2018– The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that its 13th Annual Raymond Beecher Lecture will be delivered by Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson. Titled “Still in Eden: Connecting People to Landscapes that Inspired Thomas Cole,” the lecture will take place on Sunday, October 14, at 2:00 pm at Joe’s Garage, the event space at 443 Main Street in Catskill, NY, in the Hudson River Skywalk Region…Click here for full press release.

September 19, 2018

The Second Annual Hudson River Skywalk Arts Festival Will Take Place on September 30 at Three Locations: The Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Thomas Cole National Historic Site, and Olana State Historic Site

The Hudson River Sywalk Arts Festival is Presented by Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley, in Conjunction with the New York State Bridge Authority and the Two Historic Sites, and Celebrate the Art of the Hudson Valley and the Hudson River Skywalk Initiative, Which Will Physically Link the Thomas Cole Site and Frederic Church’s Olana across the Hudson River

The Festival Includes free special events at all three locations in the Hudson River Skywalk Region.

Catskill, NY: Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley, the New York State Bridge Authority, Olana State Historic Site, and Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the second annual Hudson River Skywalk Arts Festival spanning Columbia and Greene Counties… Click here for full press release.

September 17, 2018

Albany International Airport and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site Present a New Multidisciplinary Exhibition: Landmark

Catskill, NY–September 17, 2018– Landmark, at the Albany International Airport Gallery features 10 contemporary visual artists and seven writers whose works explore our relationship to the natural world, and share common ground with Thomas Cole’s greatest written works, Essay on American Scenery… Click here for full press release. 

August 29, 2018

Thomas Cole Site Hosts September 11 Book Launch For Picturing America: Thomas Cole and the Birth of American Art by Renowned Children’s Book Author and Illustrator Hudson Talbott

The Picture Book Introduces Children to Thomas Cole, Founder of America’s First Major Art Movement, and Celebrates a Love of Painting and the Natural Landscape

Catskill, NY–August 29, 2018–The Thomas Cole National Historic Site will host the book launch for Picturing America: Thomas Cole and the Birth of American Art by renowned children’s book author and illustrator Hudson Talbott. Click here for full press release. 

August 15, 2018

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Unveils Digital Education Package Coinciding With the Launch of New Classroom Lesson Plans

The Package is Designed to Make Accessible 19th-Century American History and Illuminate its Contemporary Implications Through the Perspective of a Transformative Artist

The Free Educational Resource is Available Digitally to Teachers, Parents, and People of All Ages Throughout the Nation at www.thomascole.org

Catskill, NY–August 15, 2018–The Thomas Cole National Historic Site unveiled today a new education package on its website, whose launch coincides with the Thomas Cole Site’s release of innovative classroom lesson plans designated to engage students in exploring key concepts in the first half of 19th-century American history. Click here for full press release.

August 14, 2018

Thomas Cole Site Presents Spectrum, a Site-Specific Contemporary Art Exhibition That Explores Relationships Between Thomas Cole’s Use of Color and that of 11 Contemporary Artists

Artworks are Sited Throughout the Historic Home and Studios Where Cole Founded America’s First Major Art Movement, the Hudson River School

The Exhibition Engages Contemporary Artists in a Visual Dialogue with Thomas Cole and Explores How Artists Use Light and Color in their Practice At The Intersection of Art and Science.

Exhibiting Artists Will Gather for a Reception at the Thomas Cole Site on August 25 from 4 to 6 PM

Spectrum is an exhibition of contemporary artworks installed throughout the historic home, studios, and grounds at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and is part of the ongoing series OPEN HOUSE: Contemporary Art in Conversation with Cole. Click here for full press release.

July 24, 2018

The Hudson River School Art Trail Opens its 18th Site in the Hudson River Valley

The Latest Site is at the Catskill Center’s Platte Clove Preserve in the Town of Hunter in Greene County.

Catskill, NY–July 24, 2018The Hudson River School Art Trail has opened its 18th site in the Hudson River Valley. The site is located at the Catskill Center’s Platte Clove Preserve, 208 acres of pristine wilderness–open to the public for quiet enjoyment–with beautiful waterfalls and trails at the head of the rugged and scenic Platte Clove in the Town of Hunter in Greene County. Click here for full press release.

July 9, 2018

Acclaimed Performance Artist Tim Youd Begins his Second Week at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Retyping the 60th in his Nationwide 100 Novels Project

The 60th is James Salter’s Light Year’s-Set on the Banks of the Hudson River–And Part of Youd’s Hudson Valley Cycle, Which Will be the Basis for an Exhibition at Vassar College Next Month  

Catskill, NY–July 9, 2018–Acclaimed performance artist Tim Youd begins his second of two weeks at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site tomorrow. He is in the process of retyping 100 novels, from beginning to end, over a 10-year period, and he is now working on the 60th novel at the Cole Site, where he retyped from July 3-8 and will retype from July 10-13. Click here for full press release.

June 12, 2018

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Catskill Mountain Wild Launch a Series of Professionally Guided Hikes: the Hudson River School Art Trail Hikes 2018

The First Hike Will Take Place on Saturday, June 23

Catskill, NY–June 12, 2018–The The Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Catskill Mountain Wild announced the launch of a series of professionally guided hikes: the Hudson River School Art Trail Hikes 2018. Click here for full press release.

May 21, 2018

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Will Offer Free Admission to its New Studio and New Exhibition from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Saturday, May 26, as Part of a village-wide celebration on Memorial Day Weekend

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it will participate in “What’s Up in Catskill”–the all-day celebration of shops, food, entertainment and cultural offerings taking place in Catskill on Saturday, May 26. The Thomas Cole Site, which will be open throughout the day for ticketed guided tours, will then offer free admission from 4:00 to 7:00 pm to its New Studio, the reconstructed building of Cole’s own design that houses the Site’s latest exhibition.Click here for full press release.

May 1, 2018

“Picturesque and Sublime: Thomas Cole’s Trans-Atlantic Inheritance” Opens at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Complementing the Thomas Cole Exhibition on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Created in Collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art and Members of the Yale History of Art Department, the Exhibition Shares a Co-Curator with the Exhibition at the Met: Tim Barringer, Paul Mellon Professor and Chair of the History of Art Department at Yale.

Click here for full press release.

 March 20, 2018

Governor Cuomo Announces Milestones for Hudson River Skywalk

Scenic Viewpoints Providing Unobstructed Views of Hudson River and Catskill Mountains are now complete. Announces the creation of the Hudson River Skywalk Region’ to help draw visitors to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Olana State Historic Site. Click here for full press release.

March 15, 2018

Call For New Writing

How is the American landscape changing? Is there something you see, do, or experience now that you hope will be around for future generations? In honor of Thomas Cole’s Essay on American Scenery, The Thomas Cole National Historic site is calling for new writing on the topic of the changing landscape. Click here for full press release.

March 6, 2018

The 2018 Cole Fellow Presentations

Catskill, NY–The Thomas Cole national Historic Site announced today that on Friday, April 6 at 5pm the 2017-18 Cole Fellows will present new reasearch about Thomas Cole and the historic site where he lived and worked. Click here for full press release.

February 8, 2018

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Exhibition “Picturesque and Sublime: Thomas Cole’s Trans-Atlantic Inheritance” – Created in Collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art and Members of the Yale History of Art Department

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that the exhibition “Picturesque and Sublime: Thomas Cole’s Trans-Atlantic Inheritance” will open on May 1 and run through November 4, 2018. Click here for full press release. 

2017 Season

December 11, 2017

Bicentennial Celebrations at the Thomas Cole Site will kick off with a lecture series presented in partnership with The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University.

We are thrilled to announce the 200th year anniversary of Thomas Cole’s arrival in America.Thomas Cole (1801-8148) emigrated from Northern England in 1818 with his family at the age of 17. Cole went on to found America’s first major art movement, the Hudson River School of landscape painting, which profoundly shaped this nation’s identity and addressed the prescient issues of preservation vs. development head on. Click here for full press release. 

September 27, 2017

Thomas Cole Site awarded $200,000 From the Institute of Museum and Library Services

We are pleased to announce that the Thomas Cole National Historic Site has been awarded a 2017 Museums for America grant award of $200,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the Learning Experiences category to support an interactive multimedia installation on the second floor of Thomas Cole’s historic home. Click here for full press release. 

September 21, 2017

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Will Remain Open Longer this Fall, Extending a Season of Impressive Attendance Growth.

The growing interest in the Hudson River School is also evidenced by the opening of a major Thomas Cole exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in January 2018 traveling to the National Gallery in London. Click here for full press release. 

August 23, 2017

The First Ever Skywalk Arts Festival at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge will be Presented in Collaboration with the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and the Olana State Historic Site on Sunday, September 24 from 1 to 4 pm.

Skywalk arts festival is presented by Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley in conjunction with the NYS Bridge Authority and celebrates the art of the Hudson Valley and the in-progress Skywalk pedestrian crossing at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge on the Hudson River. Click here for full press release.

August 16, 2017

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Opens a Unique Site-Specific Exhibition by Internationally Acclaimed Contemporary Artist Kiki Smith

KIKI SMITH / From the Creek is now open at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The opening reception was held on Saturday, August 12 and was attended by over 400 guests. Click here for full press release.

July 27, 2017

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces an OPEN CALL for ARTWORK for the 6th Annual Postcards OPEN CALL Exhibition: Picturing the Sublime

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site invites artists of all ages to submit new and original 5” x 7” works of art to the sixth annual postcards open call exhibition entitled Picturing the Sublime at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Click here for full press release.

July 20, 2017

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces a Unique Site-Specific Exhibition by Internationally Acclaimed Contemporary Artist Kiki Smith

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Kiki Smith is creating a new multidisciplinary exhibition throughout the historic site where the groundbreaking American artist Thomas Cole lived and worked almost two centuries ago. Click here for full press release.

May 2, 2017

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Opens 2017 Season with Two Landmark Exhibits

The Parlors – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site today opened its 2017 season with two new landmark exhibitions: “The Parlors” and “Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills.” Click here for full press release.

April 20, 2017

Acclaimed Actor Jamie Bell is Performing the Voice of Thomas Cole in a New Immersive Installation at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that acclaimed actor Jamie Bell is performing the voice of Thomas Cole in the new immersive installation that will enable visitors to experience the historic events that took place in the parlors of Cole’s 1815 house Click here for full press release.

February 21, 2017

The Economic Impact of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site Totals Nearly $1.9 Million

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the results of a study that shows that its economic impact on the local economy is $1,898,000 annually. That total – generated by 2015 data, the latest available – represents an increase of 44% since 2010 and reflects growth in visitors during that period of 54% to nearly 16,000 annually. Click here for full press release.

February 1, 2017

Thomas Cole Site announces 2017 Exhibition

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today its upcoming exhibition Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills, which will open to the public on Tuesday, May 2, in the gallery of Cole’s 1846 “New Studio” and run through Sunday, October 29. Click here for full press release.

January 25, 2017

Thomas Cole Site announces Re-Opening with a New Immersive Installation

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today the re-opening in May 2017 of the artist’s home with a new immersive installation that combines technology and meticulous historic restoration, featuring the earliest-known, interior decorative painting by an American artist. Click here for full press release.

2016 Season

December 15, 2016

Cole Site Awarded $30,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts

We are pleased to announce that the Thomas Cole National Historic Site has been awarded an Art Works Grant of $30,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the 2017 exhibition Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills and accompanying catalogue. Click here for full press release.

December 13, 2016

Cole Site Awarded Grants Totaling $582,650

We are pleased to announce that the Thomas Cole National Historic Site was awarded two New York State grants through the Regional Economic Development Council totaling $582,650, furthering the transformation of the site into a national tourism destination and economic driver for the region. Click here for full press release.

October 28, 2016

Cole Fellow Presentations

On Friday October 28 at 5pm the 2016 Cole Fellows will present their latest research about Thomas Cole and the site where he made his home and work. This event will be held in the Visitor Center at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site at 218 Spring Street, Catskill, NY. A reception will follow. Admission is free. Click here for full press release.

October 11, 2016

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces Launch of New Audio Tour Created with Area Teens

At the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, visitors now have the chance to tour Thomas Cole’s home and studios on their own with a narrated audio guide. The audio guide is free for all ticket-holders attending the special “explore at your own pace” hours, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 2-5 pm, and was created as part of the site’s educational outreach with area teens, who worked with the staff to develop the tour. The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is honored to be able to offer this guide and program, made possible with support from AT&T. Click here for full press release.

September 16, 2016

Special Event to Honor Peter Hutton Sunday, October 9, 2 pm

Annual Fall Event to Feature Lecture by Scott MacDonald and Screenings of Hutton’s Films

Join the Thomas Cole National Historic Site as we celebrate the work of Hudson River landscape filmmaker Peter Hutton at the Arts Center Theater of Columbia-Greene Community College on Sunday, October 9 at 2 pm. During his 46 years as an independent filmmaker, Hutton, who passed away on June 25, produced a remarkable body of work that demonstrates that the legacy of Thomas Cole and Hudson River School painting is very much alive, not only in modern painting, but in cinema, as well. Click here for full press release.

August 3, 2016

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announces the opening of JASON MIDDLEBROOK: Nature Builds / We Cover, the inaugural exhibition in its new series, OPEN HOUSE: Contemporary Art in Conversation with Cole. 

Jason Middlebrook: Nature Builds / We Cover, will be on view at the Thomas Cole site August 14 – October 30. A members’ reception with the artist will be held on August 13, 3-5 pm. For this installation, Middlebrook is creating a site-specific exhibition inside the home of artist, Thomas Cole, in collaboration with the Thomas Cole site’s curator Kate Menconeri. This solo project, installed in conversation with works by Cole already within the house, will feature a selection of Middlebrook’s signature hardwood plank paintings and debut new works on paper, made for the occasion, that draw on Cole’s sketches of trees. Middlebrook lives and works in the Hudson Valley and has had solo shows at MASS MoCA and the New Museum, among other national and international venues. Click here for full press release.

January 21, 2016

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site Announces the Inaugural Art Exhibition in its “New Studio” Building: Thomas Cole: The Artist as Architect. 

Curated by noted scholar Annette Blaugrund, the exhibition focuses on Cole’s little-known architectural endeavors and is planned to include paintings from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Columbus Museum of Art, and Toledo Museum of Art, among others. The New Studio, designed by Cole in the 1840s, has been reconstructed and now offers state-of-the-art, museum-quality, exhibition space for the first time. Click here for full press release.


2015 Season

September 11, 2015

OVER $600,000 AWARDED FOR INTERIOR RESTORATION AND EXHIBITS

Periwinkle blue walls in the foyer, lavender walls in the West Parlor, a red and gold carpet with pyramids and birds-of-paradise, and hand-painted borders by Thomas Cole himself on the walls … . These are some of the elements of the original décor of the first-floor rooms of Cole’s 1815 home that will be restored as a result of two major federal grants that were recently awarded to the Thomas Cole Historic Site: $460,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities and $150,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. As an integral part of the project, the rooms will be infused with interactive exhibits that enable visitors to enter and engage with the story of Thomas Cole. Click here for the full press release.

See The Painting Beneath the Historic Paint here. 

July 1, 2015

SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER VISITS THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE TO UNVEIL NEWLY DISCOVERED DECORATIVE PAINTING BY COLE

Senator Charles Schumer today visited the Thomas Cole National Historic Site to unveil newly discovered decorative painting by Thomas Cole, the seminal 19th-century artist who is considered the founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting, the nation’s first major art movement. The decorative painting adorning the walls of the East and West Parlors was discovered during a paint analysis of the walls of the 1815 Main House that was Thomas Cole’s home. Click here for the full Press Release

February 11, 2015

River Crossings: Contemporary Art Comes Home opens May 3, 2015

 “RIVER CROSSINGS” EXHIBITION WILL BRING CONTEMPORARY ART BY WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS BACK TO THE HOMES WHERE DISTINCTLY AMERICAN ART WAS BORN, CREATING AN UNPRECEDENTED EXPERIENCE

We are excited to announce our 2015 exhibition, River Crossings: Contemporary Art Comes Home, presented in partnership with Olana, featuring contemporary art installed directly into the historic spaces and landscapes of the two historic sites. The exhibition is curated by the artist Stephen Hannock and Jason Rosenfeld, PhD. Artists in the exhibition include Romare Bearden, Elijah Burgher, Chuck Close, Will Cotton, Gregory Crewdson, Lynn Davis, Jerry Gretzinger, Don Gummer, Duncan Hannah, Stephen Hannock, Valerie Hegarty, Angie Keefer with Kara Hamilton and Kianja Strobert, Charles LeDray, Maya Lin, Frank Moore, Elizabeth Murray, Rashaad Newsome, Thomas Nozkowski, Stephen Petegorsky, Martin Puryear, Cindy Sherman, Sienna Shields, Kiki Smith, Joel Sternfeld, Letha Wilson, and Elyn Zimmerman, in addition to selected complementary work by Thomas Cole and Frederic Church from the permanent collections. Click here for the full press release.


2014 Season

July 2, 2014

Summer Exhibition at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site

STANLEY MALTZMAN | Thomas Cole’s Honey 

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is pleased to announce a summer exhibition and birthday celebration for a very special tree that turns 200 years old this year. The exhibition entitled Thomas Cole’s Honey with new artworks by the beloved artist Stanley Maltzman will open July 26 with a reception that is free and open to the public from 4:30 to 6 pm. The exhibition will run through October 2, 2014.Click here for details.

June 10 2014

Open Call to Artists / Postcards from the Trail 

Artists are invited to make a painting or drawing of one of the 22 sites along the Hudson River School Art Trail for inclusion in the third annual “Postcards from the Trail” exhibition at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site on Sunday September 28, 2014View the full press release here.

January 2014

Exhibition Announcement: Frederic Church Returns to Cedar Grove

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is pleased to announce our 2014 exhibition: Master, Mentor, Master – Thomas Cole & Frederic Church. This never before presented exhibition tells the story of one of the most important teacher-student relationships in the history of American art – that between the founder of the Hudson River School of painting, Thomas Cole (1801-1848) and his student – successor, Frederic Church (1826-1900). … View the Full Announcement.


2013 Season

June 15, 2013

Open Call to Artists

Artists are invited to participate in the second annual exhibition and sale entitled “Postcards from the Trail 2013” that will take place at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site on September 8. … View the full announcement.

January 10, 2013

Albert Bierstadt to Visit Thomas Cole in 2013

On Sunday, April 28th the Thomas Cole National Historic Site celebrates the opening of the 2013 exhibition Albert Bierstadt in New York & New England … View the full announcement.


2012 Season

May 16, 2012

Renowned Hudson River School Art Trail More Than Doubles in Size

Extraordinary Art Trail, combining nature and culture, grows to 17 Sites in New York, two in New Hampshire, two in Wyoming, and one in Massachusetts… View the full announcement.

May 21, 2012

Multiple Public Events Will Celebrate the Opening of the Expanded Hudson River School Art Trail
The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today a series of five public events that will take place on Saturday, June 2nd, to celebrate the opening of the expansion of the renowned Hudson River School Art Trail… View the full announcement.

April 2012

New Exhibition on Louis Rémy Mignot
Curated by Katherine E. Manthorne, this is the first major solo show of Louis Rémy Mignot (1831-1870) in over two decades. The exhibition will offer an intimate look at the work of this young, Charleston-born artist who painted in the style of the Hudson River School – and whose tragic life story is as captivating as his landscape paintings… View the full announcement.


2011 Season

May 2011

Now Recruiting Guides for the Hudson River School Art Trail
We are now recruiting people who love hiking, walking, and the great outdoors to conduct guided hikes during the season May through October along the beautiful Hudson River School Art Trail in the Catskill Mountains. View the full announcement.

February 2011

Position Opening, Now Hiring Part-Time Curator
We are now accepting applications for the position of part-time curator to assist with three main areas: the collection, the exhibitions gallery, and the “Cole Fellows” program. The gallery work is primarily during the winter months, the Fellows work occurs in the warmer months, and collections management is year-round. View the full announcement.

January 2011

New Exhibition on Robert S. Duncanson, the First Major African-American Landscape Painter
On May 1, a new exhibition opens at the Thomas Cole Historic Site featuring the work of a 19th-century landscape painter influenced by Thomas Cole who was also the first African-American artist to gain international renown. View the press release.


2010 Season

August 2010

Position Opening, Now Hiring Executive Assistant
We are now accepting applications for the position of Executive Assistant at the Thomas Cole Historic Site. View the full announcement.

April 2010

“True American Luminist” to Speak at Thomas Cole Historic Site
April 11 at 2pm, internationally known artist Stephen Hannock will speak at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The title of his talk is “Thomas Cole with a Power Sander.” After his talk, Mr. Hannock will sign copies of a large new book about his artwork. View the Press Release.

January 2010

New Exhibition: “Remember the Ladies: Women Artists of the Hudson River School”
The Thomas Cole Historic Site is pleased to present a new exhibition, “Remember the Ladies: Women Artists of the Hudson River School,” the first known exhibition in the United States to focus solely on the women artists associated with the 19th century landscape painting movement. View the Press Release.


2009 Season

March 2009

New Exhibition of Hudson River Views at Thomas Cole Historic Site
Celebrating Quadricentennial with Paintings of the Hudson River School. The Thomas Cole Historic Site is delighted to present a new exhibition entitled River Views of the Hudson River School exploring the subject of the Hudson River in the landscape paintings of major figures of the 19th century including Thomas Cole, Sanford Gifford, and Jasper Cropsey. The exhibition launches on May 2, 2009, and is the sixth annual presentation of Hudson River School masterpieces at the Thomas Cole Site. View the Press Release.


2008 Season

September 2008

Major Speaker Event features Timothy Barringer
The Third Annual Raymond Beecher Lecture is on Saturday, October 25th at 4pm, featuring Dr. Timothy Barringer, Paul Mellon Professor at the Yale University Department of the History of Art. View the Press Release.

August 2008

Symposium Celebrates Interns at Thomas Cole House
The Thomas Cole Site celebrates the contribution of its interns – both past and present – with an afternoon of presentations by students from Bard College, Mount Holyoke College, SUNY New Paltz, Vassar College, and Williams College, exploring their ideas on topics relating to Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School. View the Press Release.

April 2008

New Exhibition: Thomas Cole’s “Sketch” Paintings
The Thomas Cole Site launches the 2008 season with an exhibition of rarely seen “oil sketches” by Thomas Cole featuring studies for several well known Cole paintings including the study for his iconic painting of Kaaterskill Falls. View the Press Release.

February 2008

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Hosts Open House for Prospective Docents
Do you love history and art? Do you like interacting with people? Interested in the life and works of the 19th-century artist Thomas Cole, the founder of the Hudson River School of art? Want to play a role in preserving and telling the story of his home at Cedar Grove? View the Press Release.


2007 Season

September 2007

Thomas Cole Historic Site Awarded $320,900 From the National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities has announced a grant award of $320,900 for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site through the “Interpreting America’s Historic Places” program, which supports public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture. View the Press Release.

April 2007

Asher B. Durand: Intimate Observations
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is pleased to announce the 2007 exhibition at Cedar Grove, Asher B. Durand: Intimate Observations, which continues a series of exhibitions exploring significant figures in 19th-century American landscape painting. View the Press Release.

February 2007

Lost Painting Found!
A Tale of Conservation

On Sunday, March 11, at 2 p.m., the “Sunday Salon” at Cedar Grove, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, will feature Elise Effmann, former assistant conservator of paintings at the Kimbell Art Museum and now a paintings conservator at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. View the Press Release.


2006 Season

July 2006

Beautiful Party, Record Fundraising, at the 2006 “Pic-Nic” 
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site held their third annual summer party at Cedar Grove on Saturday July 29th, raising a record amount of funds for their operations. View the Press Release.

May 2006

New Website a guide to historic views
A new way to tour the historic Hudson Valley is now online, weaving art history and enjoyment of the outdoors into a single experience. View the Press Release.

February 2006

Thomas Cole Historic Site Presents a New Exhibition.
Jasper Cropsey: Interpreting Nature in America

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is pleased to announce the 2006 exhibition at Cedar Grove, continuing a series of exhibitions focusing on significant figures in the rise of 19th-century American landscape painting. View the Press Release.


2005 Season

September 2005

Cedar Grove announces the Fall Schedule of Sunday Salons
This fall, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site presents an internationally renowned scholar, a tasting of authentic Hudson Valley farm products, and a Broadway acting star in its lineup of programming. View the Press Release.

March 2005

Official Launch of the Hudson River School Art Trail
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site and the Mountain Top Historical Society team up for a weekend of special events, June 4-5, 2005. View the Press Release.

January 2005

George Inness: Paintings
A New Exhibition at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Opening May 1, 2005. View the Press Release.


2004 Season

September 2004

Minetta Brook and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site present VIEW, an exhibition by Matts Leiderstam
Minetta Brook and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site present a special exhibition by Matts Leiderstam titled View in Thomas Cole’s “Old Studio” at Cedar Grove in Catskill, New York. The opening reception will take place on Sunday, October 3, 2004 from 11am to 3pm as part of the ribbon-cutting celebration and public opening for the “Old Studio,” which was constructed in 1839, and has recently undergone a major restoration. View the Press Release.

Announcing the public opening, ribbon-cutting, and celebration of Thomas Cole’s Storehouse Studio
The public is invited to join the celebration, tour the studio, and enjoy music, refreshments, and a variety of special exhibitions and presentations from 11 a.m. to 3 pm. Congressman John Sweeney will be the honorary chair of the event, in recognition of his role in preserving this important National Historic Landmark. Admission is free. Thomas Cole’s Storehouse Studio, often called the “Old Studio,” was constructed in 1839 when he was commissioned to create his famous “Voyage of Life” series.

The restoration of the Old Studio is made possible by a grant from “Save America’s Treasures”, the Catskill-Olana Scenic Mitigation Fund, and Benjamin Moore & Co.

June 8, 2004

Cedar Grove offers hikes back in time

It is the views of the Catskill Mountains and their surrounding wilderness that inspired the first exclusively American art movement, known as the Hudson River School . Although the artists of this style worked in the early 19th century, many of the glorious vistas they depicted are still as pristine and untouched today as they were then. The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is hosting a series of hikes that will allow participants to follow the footsteps of these painters and experience the sights, sounds, and sensations that influenced them.

May 2, 2004

Cedar Grove’s fourth season accented by collaborative projects
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site opens its doors to the public Saturday, May 1, for its fourth season of public tours. Along with new exhibitions and exciting programs, visitors will benefit from a new spirit of collaboration at the Catskill home of the founder of the Hudson River School of art. View the Press Release.

March 29, 2004

Paintings by Ralph Albert Blakelock coming to Thomas Cole National Historic Site
American painter Ralph A. Blakelock (1847-1919), one of the most celebrated artists of the late 19th century, will be the focus of the season-opening exhibition at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. View the Press Release.

December, 2003

Former Marketing Director of Whitney Museum Hired at Cedar Grove

The Board of Governors of Cedar Grove has announced that Elizabeth B. Jacks, the former marketing director for the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City , has been hired to be the new Director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill , NY. View the Press Release.

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