Catskill, NY

Thomas Cole House

The Thomas Cole House is a beautifully preserved historic home dating back to 1815 located in Catskill, New York. Today, it highlights the story of the Cole family, while exhibiting landscapes painted in the 19th century, and rotating artworks by contemporary artists.

Thomas Cole “founded” the Hudson River School of Landscape Painting around 1825. He and his students painted sweeping, romantic views of the Hudson Valley and beyond. Visitors can purchase timed-entry tickets online for $20 (adult) to explore the home and exhibits. Begin your visit at the new Cole Center, which includes a gift shop with books, postcards, and unique items.

Next, step into the 1839 Storehouse Studio, where Thomas Cole lived and worked. If you enjoy creating art, you can borrow watercolors, pencils, and paper to sketch your own landscape while exploring the grounds. At the far end of the building is a recreation of Thomas Cole’s studio you can view through glass. It’s pretty neat!

From there, head to the 1846 New Studio, now a gallery. The current exhibit is on view until November 2, 2025 and features ceramics and sketches by Emily Cole, landscapes by her father Thomas Cole, and works by contemporary artists inspired by Emily’s work.

Finally, make your way to the 1815 Main House during your reserved time slot. Here you’ll see how the Cole family lived, along with more pieces from the Emily Cole exhibit and the On Trees exhibition, which includes a painting by Georgia O’Keeffe through December 14th. O’Keeffe, a pioneer of American Modernism, is best known for her close-up studies of flowers, trees, and landscapes. She created art from 1916 until her death in 1986, spending her early career in New York and then most of her life in New Mexico.

As you wander the property, you can peek into an old-fashioned restored outhouse, relax on benches, and stroll paths through flower beds and a fenced vegetable garden. Plan on spending about 2–4 hours if you’d like to enjoy everything at a leisurely pace. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike the Hudson River Skywalk to Olana—the home of Frederick Church, one of Cole’s students—which is also a New York State Historic Site.

Thanks for exploring the Cole House with me!

I enjoy exploring the Thomas Cole House each year. The historic studios and gardens, Emily Cole’s beautiful artwork, and seeing a piece from my favorite artist Georgia O’Keeffe, it’s a rich mix of history and creative inspiration.

Next week I’ll be sharing another historic home, this time from my latest trip to York County Pennsylvania.

Happy exploring!
Kathleen

Planning to Visit Catskill?

There are a lot more things to do Catskill, New York, no matter what your interests. The best days to visit are Thursday – Saturday when most of the shops, galleries, and restaurants are open. Need inspiration? Check out my blog…

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