Olana State Historic Site
Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, New York, was the home, studio and designed landscape of Frederic Edwin Church (1826–1900), the Hudson River School painter. Its 250-acre landscape is free and open every day from 8 a.m. to sunset. Guided tours of the Persian-inspired house run year round through The Olana Partnership, and State Parks strongly recommends booking ahead at olana.org. New York State Parks lists Olana among the sites within a 45-minute drive of Lake Taghkanic.
Olana at a Glance
What Olana Is
Frederic Church lived at Olana with his wife Isabel and their four children. State Parks describes an elaborately stenciled, Persian-inspired mansion filled with Church's original sketches, studies and paintings, plus a decorative arts collection from around the world. Church shaped the land the way he painted, with views revealed on purpose, and the site's hilltop looks across the Hudson River valley to the Catskill Mountains.
Visiting the Grounds
The 250-acre landscape costs nothing to enter. State Parks gives it as open every day from 8 a.m. to sunset, and the grounds open for hiking, walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and biking from 8:30 a.m. Five miles of carriage drives cross the property, many now for walkers only. Bikes stay on paved surfaces. State Parks also mentions dog walking, picnicking, painting and photography in the landscape.
A self-guided walking tour leads to the Church family's first home on the property (Cosy Cottage, now the offices of The Olana Partnership), the farm and orchards, a lake the family made from swampland, and the site of Church's first studio. Free audio tours can be streamed or downloaded from olana.org.
House Tours
Guided tours of the house and landscape are offered all year by The Olana Partnership. Reservations are strongly recommended, and they are required for adult and student groups of 10 or more and for any third-party guided tour. State Parks sends visitors to olana.org for tour times and tickets, and does not list prices, so check there.
Visitor Center and Programs
The Visitor Center has an exhibit, a film, touch-screen computers and the museum shop. The Evelyn and Maurice Sharp Gallery holds changing exhibitions, and the Wagon House Education Center in the farm complex runs family activities through the year. Olana's OLANA EYE skycam streams the view from Church's studio tower.
Accessibility
State Parks says visitors using wheelchairs can take the Main Floor and Studio tour, with a lift (33 inches wide by 46 inches deep, 600-pound limit) to the main floor. The combined tour with the second floor has steep stairs; a video of the upper floors plays in the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center and restrooms are accessible.
Pairing Olana With Lake Taghkanic
Olana and Lake Taghkanic are both run by the State Parks Taconic Region. A summer day can start with house and grounds at Olana and end on the West Beach, or a camping week at Lake Taghkanic can include an Olana tour on a rainy day. Clermont, the Livingston family seat, is another Hudson River estate in the same region.
Getting There
Olana is at 5720 Route 9-G, Hudson, NY 12534. Phone (518) 751-0344.
Olana State Historic Site FAQ
Is Olana free to visit?
The 250-acre grounds are free and open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset. House tours are ticketed through The Olana Partnership at olana.org.
Who lived at Olana?
Frederic Edwin Church (1826–1900), the Hudson River School painter, with his wife Isabel and their four children.
Do you need reservations for Olana?
State Parks strongly recommends booking house tours ahead, and groups of 10 or more must reserve.
Can you bring a dog to Olana?
State Parks mentions visitors walking dogs in the landscape. State Parks does not say whether dogs may join house tours.
Where is Olana?
5720 Route 9-G, Hudson, NY 12534, in Columbia County.