Hudson River School Bus Trip

As you can see, I'm having a wonderful time!

Bucket list trip! Last week I went on a bus trip with a wonderful group from the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. Destination?     The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, and Frederick Edwin Church's home, Olana! Both are located in the Hudson River area of New York state. One on each side of the river. Thomas Cole is considered the father of the Hudson River School of art, while Church is one of the most successful and famous of the group. First stop - Thomas Cole's home, Cedar Grove!

Look how large this tree has grown in the 150 years since Moore's painting

Thomas Cole's Cedar Grove, by Charles Herbert Moore, 1868

Love this Porch!

And the views from the porch!!!

Thomas Cole's Old Studio

After our visit to the Thomas Cole house, we hopped back on the bus and headed to the Village of Catskill for lunch.

So nice to sit back in air conditioned comfort while someone else does the driving!

What a charming little town with some grand architecture.

Greene County Courthouse

Detail

After lunch, we went back across the river to tour Frederic Church's home, Olana! Imagine having a house so grand it has its own name.

Olana

Back view

Attention to detail

You can see the middle eastern influences in the architecture.

The dining room was designed to look dark, an influence of the many European estates Church had visited. The rest of the home is much brighter and cheerier.

The Churches entertained many well known artists, and writers. This stair case was designed as a stage for performances by both children and visitors. Imagine Mark Twain standing here, reading poetry.

Staircase and stage

Frederic Church designed and supervised every detail of his home. There are intricate stencils on walls and doors. Each fireplace is unique. The process took four years to complete.

Hand carved rosewood

Persian inspired, custom designed tile work 

Views from every window

The Catskill Mountains

A scene from the balcony

The Charter Oak 1847, Frederick Edwin Church

The Hudson River is in the distance. A modern yellow sculpture sits on the hill.

The extensive flower gardens can be viewed from a walkway above the wall, or on the path in the garden.

Beautiful flower gardens hug the curved wall. 

The 250 acre grounds include a man-made lake, woodlands, and miles of carriage trails. On a cooler day it would have been fun to explore, but on this day we all headed for the gift shop to stock up on souvenirs. 

This dream trip introduced me to new friends, Mary and Tanya. Mary and I talked each other's ears off over lunch as we shared an interest in architecture, nutrition and writing. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Tanya Pohrt on the bus ride. Tanya is the Special Project Curator for the Lyman Allyn Museum. I felt like I gained a new friend and had the privilege of my own tour guide as she shared information from her research! Can't wait to see the new exhibits she is working on!

West Rock New Haven 1849, Frederick Edwin Church

So why was this a bucket list trip. I've always loved Hudson River School paintings, but my favorite artist is Frederic Edwin Church. There is a painting of his, at the New Britain Museum of American Art, I have always felt drawn towards. West Rock, New Haven has the perfect mix of green landscape, blue sky, floating clouds, people in action, and reflective water that leads to that eye-catching red rock as the focal point. In other words the proportion of nature to human influence is perfect to my eye. I love that it's an historic scene of Connecticut. It makes me feel rooted to this place, as though I may have been here before. The ground gives me a sense of belonging and security, while the sky provides the freedom to dream and fly. I could sit and stare at this painting for hours!

What's next on my bucket list? I'm not sure, but I know I'm keeping an eye out for the Lyman Allyn's next bus trip! See you there!

Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides. 

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