Thomas Cole Cedar Grove

An amazing, stupendous, fantastic walk through history! The tour was worth every penny for every second! It was informative and enlightening! It was inspiring and moving! The garden and art studio were added bonuses, as was the gift shop, with so many unique and wonderful items! This place is kept immaculate, and truly preserves a piece of history of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, artists of all time. Take a hike down the block to the cemetery where the stones of Thomas and his wife lie side by side in their antiqued glory. Then hike the artist trail and stand on the sites of Cole’s masterpieces. A true artist experience while cultivating your «feeling of one with nature.»

we really liked this relaxing location. the video in the tourist shop provides a nice overview and history lesson. the mock-​up shop is very interesting. great views. but, what would thomas cole think of the location today?

After we went to Olana, we decided to visit the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The staff here were all very friendly & polite. There was the River Crossing event when we were there. The outside of the house looks very well preserved but some of the interior were repainted with modern color. It’s still worth visiting especially after visiting the Olana.

I had been wavering in my decision whether or not to visit Cedar Grove, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. However, I am really glad I chose to visit the site, followed directly by a tour of Olana. Both sites tell the story of the Hudson River School in different ways and I liked how they contrasted the story of the art and culture of the Hudson River Valley.
Our tour guide at Cedar Grove was highly knowledgeable about Cole and the site. She easily responded to our questions and guided us through the house at a great pace. We had time to explore and experience the house and the different features, including the great Bierstadt exhibit. It was great to be able to view the same views Cole and other Hudson River School artists used as inspiration in their paintings. For the price, this is a great site to visit and really gives you a great base knowledge about Cole and the Hudson River School artists… if you are going to Olana, check out Cedar Grove first!

Nice tour. Very friendly staff. Would have loved to see the kitchen.