Olana State Historic Site
Hudson, NY
Painter Frederic Church’s Persian-style hilltop house, set in a landscape he designed around views of the Hudson and the Catskills.
Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, New York, is the home and landscape estate of the painter Frederic Edwin Church in the Hudson Valley. The main house was built from 1870 to 1872 and the studio wing from 1888 to 1890. Church designed the house himself and brought in the architect Calvert Vaux as a consultant; he described the style as "Persian, adapted to the Occident." Olana has been a National Historic Landmark since June 22, 1965, and New York State bought the property in 1966.
According to NYS Parks, the grounds of about 250 acres (101 hectares) are open for walking during the day year-round. Church laid out about 5 miles (8 kilometers) of carriage roads, many of them now footpaths, with views of the Hudson River, the Catskills and the Taconic Mountains. According to Atlas Obscura you can see the river and the mountains from the lawn in front of the house; traffic from the nearby Rip Van Winkle Bridge and Route 9G may be audible.
Reservations are strongly recommended for house tours. The main entrance is on Route 9G (5720 Route 9G).
- Nearest town
- Hudson, NY
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 42.2177, -73.8291
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- North-South Lake CampgroundCampsite11 mi from Olana State Historic Site
- Taconic State Park CampgroundCampsite17 mi from Olana State Historic Site · 96 pitches
- Schodack Island State Park CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Olana State Historic SiteTentsCaravans
- Devil's Tombstone CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Olana State Historic Site
- Spacious Skies Campgrounds - Woodland HillsCampsite22 mi from Olana State Historic Site
- Kenneth L. Wilson CampgroundCampsite24 mi from Olana State Historic Site
All campsites in New York · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Olana State Historic Site?
Olana State Historic Site is in Hudson, NY, at GPS 42.2177, -73.8291. It is about 14 mi from Haines Falls.
Can you camp near Olana State Historic Site?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Blue Mountain Campground, about 10 mi away; within 25 mi there are 20 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Olana State Historic Site?
Olana State Historic Site is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Catskills waterfalls and artists’ towns.
What is there to see near Olana State Historic Site?
Places worth a stop nearby: North-South Lake (11 mi), Kaaterskill Falls (12 mi), Norman Rockwell Museum (26 mi) and The Mount (29 mi).
When is the best time to visit Olana State Historic Site?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)