Frederic Church 200: Columbia County’s Historic Spotlight on America’s Greatest Landscape Artist

HUDSON, NEW YORK – April 27, 2026 — Columbia County is now fully immersed in Frederic Church 200, the yearlong national bicentennial honoring Frederic Church (1826–1900), America’s preeminent landscape artist. Led by The Olana Partnership at Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, this expansive initiative features exhibitions, programs, publications, and community events that celebrate Church’s creativity, scientific curiosity, global adventures, and enduring legacy right here in Columbia County.

Church’s deep roots in Columbia County make Olana the natural epicenter. His 250-acre designed landscape—blending art, architecture, and nature with five miles of carriage roads, a Persian-inspired house, and breathtaking views of the Hudson River and Catskills—remains the most intact artist’s environment in the United States. His monumental paintings, inspired by travels to South American volcanoes, North Atlantic icebergs, Caribbean tropics, and Middle Eastern landmarks, elevated American art on the world stage. Now, more than seventy museums and institutions across the U.S. and Europe are participating with special exhibitions and programs, but the flagship events are unfolding right here in Columbia County.

Celebration Highlights: Recent Kickoff and Upcoming Events

The bicentennial launched in grand style recently with the Frederic Church Awards at The Metropolitan Museum of Art — where Church served as a founding trustee—honoring leaders in American art and culture. The momentum continues locally with these not-to-miss events:

• May 2nd: Frederic Church’s 200th Birthday Party at Olana State Historic Site — a free celebration from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Open access to the historic house, art-making workshops, live performances, special treats, giveaways, and a 5:00 p.m. book talk and signing with Victoria Johnson, author of the new biography Glorious Country. No registration required—first-come, first-served seating for the talk. Perfect for families and visitors seeking an immersive Hudson Valley experience.
  
  
• May 4th: Frederic Church’s 200th Birthday WAMC will be broadcasting the Roundtable live from the Frederic Church Center.
  
  
• May 17th – October 25th: Frederic Church: Global Artist at Olana’s Sharp Family Gallery. This landmark flagship exhibition, curated by Elizabeth Kornhauser (Curator Emerita, The Metropolitan Museum of Art), Tim Barringer (Yale University), and Jennifer Raab (Yale University), unites monumental oil paintings, drawings, oil sketches, and photographs from Church’s worldwide journeys. Rare works from Olana join loans from major collections including the New York Historical Society, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Terra Foundation for American Art.

Additional Columbia County and nearby highlights throughout the year include:

• June 4, 2026: Premiere screening of the WMHT documentary Language in Landscape: The Art of Frederic Church at Hudson Hall in Hudson, followed by a panel discussion with Sean Sawyer, Washburn and Susan Oberwager President of The Olana Partnership, Elizabeth Kornhauser (Curator Emerita, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Chair of the Frederic Church Bicentennial Committee) and Victoria Johnson (Author of “Glorious Country” the first biography by Frederic Church)
  
  
• June thru October, 2026: Free Third Thursdays are monthly community days offering free guided landscape and historic house tours and special evening programs like live music and a movie night under the stars.
  
  
• November 7, 2026: Church 200 Fall Trivia Night at Olana (free for ages 18+, with prizes and optional refreshments).

The global scope amplifies the excitement: Partner exhibitions and programs are underway or opening soon at venues including the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown (In Nature’s Studio), Thomas Cole National Historic Site (Thomas Cole: An American Visionary), Wadsworth Atheneum, Detroit Institute of Arts, National Gallery of Art, The Albany Institute and even the National Galleries of Scotland. These activations connect Church’s Hudson Valley vision to audiences worldwide while drawing visitors to explore the broader region.

New Publications to Enrich Your Visit

Four insightful books are rolling out in 2026, providing deeper context for your Columbia County explorations:

• Composing Olana: A Journey on Foot Through an American Landscape by Annik LaFarge (Fordham University Press, published March 3, 2026)
  
  
• Frederic Church: Global Artist, edited by Tim Barringer, Elizabeth Kornhauser, and Jennifer Raab (Yale University Press, releasing April 28, 2026)
  
  
• Glorious Country: How Frederic Church Brought the World to America and America to the World by Victoria Johnson (Scribner, May 5, 2026)
  
  
• Olana: Frederic Church’s Vision of Architecture and Landscape by Barry Bergdoll, Sean E. Sawyer, and Thomas L. Woltz (Rizzoli, September 2026)

Many include author talks and signings at Olana and partner sites—perfect companions for your trip.

Plan Your Trip to Olana and Columbia County

Olana State Historic Site is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset for self-guided landscape exploration (reservations strongly recommended for guided house and landscape tours). Stroll the carriage roads, marvel at the panoramic views that inspired Church, and immerse yourself in his world-class art and architecture.

“His art and public service reveal a deep engagement with the issues and ideals of his time,” notes Sean Sawyer, President of The Olana Partnership. “As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Church stands out as a powerful model of American creativity, environmental awareness, and global connection.”

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, history buff, or nature lover, Frederic Church 200 turns Columbia County into a premier destination this spring and beyond. For the complete, up-to-date schedule, tickets, and more, visit olana.org/fc200.

Olana State Historic Site is a New York State Historic Site and National Historic Landmark, operated in partnership with The Olana Partnership. Frederic Church 200 is supported by generous funders including a Market New York grant from Empire State Development and I LOVE NY.