The Hudson River Schools of Art and Their Ice Age Origins

Presented by Robert and Johanna Titus

During the 19th century there was something of a cultural Renaissance right here in the Hudson Valley region. America’s first worldclass literature appeared. We also saw the birth of American landscape architecture. Most importantly, led by Thomas Cole, we saw the appearance of the Hudson Valley School of Art. In short, our region became the center of a truly important cultural movement. None of this, we argue, would ever have happened if the Hudson Valley, especially the North Lake area, had not been so heavily glaciated. We take our readers to see how the North Lake glaciers created the landscapes that so inspired the great artists of those times.

Then we look down into the Hudson Valley. First it is filled with ice but later it is filled with the glacial meltwaters of something called Lake Albany. Those waters drained away and platforms composed of lake sediment emerged. When the Livingston family came along, they built their mansions upon those platforms. Their architects designed the grounds so that scenic views were opened up. These are called planned views, and they became central to landscape architecture as it developed all across America.

Event held in Badgley Museum Annex across the street from the Fort.