Visiting the Olana State Historic Site

Olana, considered one of the most important artistic residences and planned landscapes in the United States, is the last and perhaps greatest masterpiece created by Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900). Church designed the landscape and his Persian style home on and around the same hilltop where, as an eighteen year old student, he sketched spectacular views of the Catskills and the river alongside his mentor Thomas Cole.

Even in an era defined by personal architectural statements, the home of Frederic and Isabel Church was unique. Delight in the Moorish details of the building and each room. View the original furnishings of the house and walk or jog along the carriage drives of the surrounding landscape, also masterfully designed by Church.

A designated National Historic Landmark,Olana State Historic Site opened to the public in 1967. The house, its contents, and the landscape still look very much as they did in Church's day.