Inside Olana: New York’s Terraforming Masterpiece

As one of the earliest states in the Union, New York is steeped in awe-inspiring history. Sure, NYC is home to a lot, but the rolling hills and forests of Upstate New York are home to their own history.

Tucked away in the Hudson Valley might be New York's most jaw-dropping achievement...

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Who was Frederic Church?

Frederic Church is considered the greatest landscape painter in American history. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1826, and very early on realized he wanted to be an artist. He became the youngest artist to be elected to the National Academy of Design, and kept making a name for himself in New York City.

In 1860, he married Isabel Carnes, and purchased a hillside farm in Hudson NY from his mentor Thomas Cole. Later in life, he became fascinated with landscaping, and worked as the Parks Commissioner in New York City’s Central Park, as well as pushing to establish the first State Park in New York, the Niagara Reservation.

Olana

His greatest achievement isn't a painting or sculpture, rather, that hillside farm he bought in 1860. He worked tirelessly to terraform the landscape from a barren plot into one of New York's most stunning natural preserves.

The property is 250-acres, has viewpoints of four states, and still has the original home he built on the premises. Now, when I say original, I mean original.

All the paint, furniture, bricks, windows, and everything is still exactly as it was when Church roamed the grounds.

The interior of Olana

The Interior of Church's Home

You can visit Olana still, and grab tours of the home and property, or just take a hike and enjoy the stunning scenery this natural work of art has to offer.