Olana: A Museum on the Hudson

One of the more charming places to visit while puttering around New York’s Hudson Valley is Olana. Olana is the name of the house built by artist Frederic Church. Church was a prominent member of the American art scene, and an artist of the Hudson River School, which thrived in the half-century prior to the 1900s. He designed the large house after the buildings he saw when he and his wife visited the Middle East. The main house itself was built between 1870 and 1891, but Church continued to alter and improve until his death in 1900.

Olana’s name is especially appropriate. It was named for a fortress housing treasure in ancient Persia. Indeed, Olana is a treasure house full of art and artistic furnishings. Some of collections include original work by Church himself and other Hudson River School painters, as well as other pieces of art. The home is furnished with antiques, objects and rugs from all over the world, and with sculpture, bronzes, and other forms of artistic expression. The home is a museum in and of itself.

The grounds are beautiful as well. Olana’s property includes 250 acres of land that overlook the Hudson River Valley and the Catskill mountains. It is on one of the tallest prominences next to the river, offering an unadulterated picturesque. Driving up the hill to Olana, and walking about in its environs, is as enjoyable as exploring the beauties of the house.

Visiting Olana is possible most of the year (the exact dates change, so it is a good idea to visit the Web site), and Olana offers special holiday tours between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a good idea to purchase tickets early in the day, or to make advanced reservations, as tours can sell out rather quickly, especially on the weekends. Tickets are relatively inexpensive: $7 for adults, $2 for children 5-12 years old, and $5 for senior citizens. On weekends and holidays there is a $5 grounds fee per vehicle. Luckily, you can redeem your grounds fee ticket and receive $5 toward the price of your admission to the house tour.

New York’s Hudson Valley is a beautiful place to visit. There is plenty to do, and a trip to Olana is one of the highlights. This National Historic Landmark is well worth the trip, especially if you come from the town of Hudson, where you can cross the Rip Van Winkle bridge along your way.