Thomas Cole National Historic Site — Attraction in Town of Catskill

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is a great place to visit! Thomas Cole was the founder of the Hudson River School of Art. He was one of America's first great artists. The house is historically restored and displays artifacts that Cole and/or his family used. Most of the paintings displayed in the house are re-creations of Cole's works. The views of the Catskill mountains are very nice. The tour was very good and the guide knew a great deal about the house and Thomas Cole. The movie at the beginning of the tour was a nice touch. We were also allowed to explore and look around on the tour, after the guide explained each part of the house. The tour was about an hour. The Cole House also serves as a small art museum. If you go to Thomas Cole's studio, you can see works from other artists. The house itself also displayed some contemporary works, that were mixed in with Cole's works. The contemporary work was good, but some of it didn't really fit the historical theme of the house. You get a lot for your ticket here. A house tour, Thomas Cole's works, contemporary artworks, and a small gallery of art exhibitions. You can also walk to the nearby Hudson River Skywalk and Rip Van Winkle bridge. Olana state historic site is also only three miles away. The gift shop offered much at reasonable prices. This place is definitely...

Why would somebody visit the home of a repressed, scold who was so in love with nature he wanted the Catskills for himself. He wasn't trying to ban carbon footprints, he was against all human footprints, except his of course, because only he appreciated natural beauty. He rose to some fame with a few scenic paintings - none of which are here. Feel pity for the site overseers who have historic but somewhat boring buildings to show so they try to build Cole up as a naturalist, but he comes across as a moralizing celebrity who only exists to moralize. The staff, who are probably students looking for school credits, have no real information and basically treat each day as Casual Friday. The whole place gives the feel of being kept on life support until the insurance runs out. Officials know they have a dog on their hands and to try and justify the big ticket price they push a second visit to the Olana Historical Site across the river that is bigger and better. That costs more and be warned: you would be committing to a six-mile jaunt. So skip this place and...

The evening was surprisingly magical. Whether a lover of art or the Catskill mountains visiting the Thomas Cole House on any occasion is an experience that should not be missed. Thomas Cole has been deemed the father of 'The Hudson River School" painters, and although that description goes a long way in describing how he painted a visit to Cedar Grove, his home, defines why he painted. The columns from his verandah frames his beloved Catskills the way his artful depiction has framed numerous works of the same. This alone would have made a visit to Cedar Grove at dusk a moving experience, but add to it the art of Brian Kenny, and illuminated orbs set to the surrounding sound scape music and the evening becomes magical and almost spiritual. This event, Spring Lights, only runs for a short time during the Spring months so don't miss...