30
November
2025
COLE 200 Beecher Lecture - In the Shadow of the Mountains – Catskill at the Dawn of the Hudson River School
Sunday, November 30th at 2pm.
Join Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer for a special Beecher Lecture and Sunday Salon marking the 200th anniversary of Thomas Cole’s first trip to Catskill (1825–2025)—a journey that forever changed the course of American art.
Palmer will explore what Cole encountered in the Catskill Mountains of 1825, a moment when the young Republic was shifting into the age of Jackson. Catskill reflected the tensions and transformations shaping the nation on the eve of its 250th anniversary. During this time of upheaval, Cole could not have imagined that his visit would spark a golden age of art, leaving an enduring legacy on the village and mountains that inspired him.
Funded in Part by the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
Venue(s)
Thomas Cole National Historic Site
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is the former home of Hudson River School of Art founder, Thomas Cole. Located in the village of Catskill, the house, called Cedar Grove, and Cole's studio are open for tours, events, and workshops throughout the year.
