The Hudson River Skywalk: A Scenic Walkway Where American Landscape Painting Began
With the opening of the Hudson River Skywalk across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, the views, history, art and experiences of the Olana historic site in Hudson and the Thomas Cole historic site in Catskill are now connected like never before. This significant New York State infrastructure project has created a physical pedestrian connection between the homes of the two iconic painters. Thanks to new parking facilities, access paths, and the creation of an entirely new traffic circle (to make crossing the busy bridge approach safer), the immense beauty of the vistas from the bridge and the famous homes are now more accessible. The public is invited to the grand opening event on Saturday, June 1.
The views of the Hudson Valley from Olana and the Thomas Cole house are still as magnificent as they were when their resident master painters Frederic Church and Thomas Cole interpreted the 19th-century views. Looking down from Olana, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge lays like a tin ruler across the canvas of the rolling viewshed. But even the bridge has an undeniable elegance in its utilitarian scale and form from this vantage. And built in 1935, The Rip is not without historical merit.
“We think this project, connecting two sites of such significance, is pretty unique in the country and even the world,” said Sean Sawyer, president of The Olana Partnership. “People seek out these kinds of experiences. We are very excited to utilize this infrastructure to attract more people to both sites.”
Church studied under Cole at his home as a teenager in the 1840s and didn’t construct Olana until many years after his mentor's death, but there is at least one account of the two rowing over together and visiting the old farm that would one day become the unparalleled grounds of Olana. Walking over the bridge in the context of the Skywalk will give visitors bird's-eye views of the valley that would have certainly astonished and delighted the painters.
"These two historic sites have been connected by history for nearly two hundred years,” said Elizabeth Jacks, executive director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. “With the construction of the walkways of the Hudson River Skywalk, that historic and thematic connection will be made into concrete and steel. Now, it is our goal to establish this connection in the public eye as well, so that the Hudson River Skywalk Region is seen and known as one spectacular unified destination."
The three-mile Skywalk is a much different and more complex experience than Poughkeepsie’s Walkway Over the Hudson. Notably, the parking area provides foot access to Church’s original entrance road up to Olana. The switchback carriage road winds through a thick wood and you arrive at the top greeted by the main house as the artist intended.
Sawyer said discussions about a better physical connection between Olana and the Cole house began after the wonderfully received River Crossing exhibition hosted at both sites in 2015. He said the project was championed by Tara Sullivan, acting executive director of the New York State Bridge Authority, who showed great enthusiasm for the project despite it necessitating the massive reconstruction of the bridge's approach intersection in Columbia County.
To plan and complete an infrastructure project of this size in such a short time is clear evidence of Sullivan and her department’s zeal for the Skywalk.
“The Hudson River Skywalk has been a prime example of how a public-private partnership can work together to complete such a transformative project,” said Sullivan in a provided statement. “The Bridge Authority and the Skywalk community partners have worked hand in hand throughout this entire process to build something that connects the historical beauty of this region with future generations to admire.”
The opening event on June 1 will include an opportunity for the public to join in a parade across the bridge in a provided blue shirt. For information on how to participate and to sign up ahead of time, click here. Aside from the opening event, other programming at both historic properties will soon incorporate the Skywalk. Visit Hudson River Skywalk for more details.
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