Overlooking the Hudson River Valley, in the town of Greenport, NY, sits a Persian-inspired villa designed by 19^th century landscape artist Frederic Edwin Church. Church was a major figure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting and created the masterpiece known today as the Olana State Historic Site. The site, an historic house museum and property, was originally the residence of Church and his family. This magnificent estate was named after a fortress-treasure house in ancient greater Persia; which, just like Olana, overlooked a river valley.

The artist and history-lover in me was intrigued by the beauty and background of Olana, so I visited the historic property’s website and also took a virtual tour. I learned that Church and his wife were world travelers and the design for their hilltop home was inspired by their 18-month trip to Europe and the Middle East. Before they embarked on the trip, Church purchased property on the hilltop above his farmland and in 1870 began construction of the mansion. Church hired architect Calvert Vaux to complete the project, but was also very involved in the plans, even working on his own architectural sketches for the design. He considered the mansion and landscape design project a work of art. He wrote in a letter about that time period, “I have made about 1 ¾ miles of road this season, opening entirely new and beautiful views. I can make more and better landscapes in this way than by tampering with canvas and paint in the studio.” I can relate to this sentiment because I consider my upstate vacation home an artistic work in progress… not nearly on the same scale as Olana of course, but my own real-life canvas that’s evolving and fulfilling the vision I have for it. Very rewarding… in spite of the renovation growing pains!

The YouTube video tour, “Olana State Historic Site – A Winter Walk Around the Mansion and Views of the Catskill Mountains,” opens with cheerful regal music playing as we enjoy exterior views of the beautiful, ornately decorated Persian-inspired estate home. As the music continues, we travel through a snowy, wooded landscape that leads back to the majestic mansion, towering atop a sparkling snow-blanketed hill. Its architecture and detail are magnificent, and its massive exterior entry is adorned with an elegant, colorful patterned border. A deep male voice narrates as we travel through the grounds, which include five miles of carriage drives that take visitors to and from strategically located vistas of the scenic Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains. We witness breathtaking views of the snow-covered valley, Hudson River, Rip Van Winkle Bridge, and along the trails encounter information boards with beautiful images. Visitors are welcome to use the vast landscape for outdoor activities such as hiking, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and my fave, dog walking!

Next, the tour takes us up a steep hand-railed walkway to the historic home that awaits our visit. As we approach the home, we first stop at the Visitor’s Center which houses a gift shop, shows movies, and gives information about historic sites. We learn from the narrator that Frederic Church was a mid-19^th century celebrity as a landscape painter and member of what later became known as the Hudson River School, founded by his mentor Thomas Cole. Church, best known for his views of the American wilderness, became famous for his paintings, “Niagara,” “Heart of the Andes,” and “Twilight of the Wilderness,” all displayed in the mansion and on the virtual tour. The Olana State Historic Site displays a variety of art and object collections from around the world.

The narrator/tour guide also allows us to explore the beauty and architecture of the mansion through pictures he’s taken. There’s an elegant dining room with attention to detail and colorful design. Another picture displays a tall archway that curves and comes to a point at the top, reminiscent of Persian architecture. The mansion’s interior décor makes use of bold, beautiful colors… just like Church’s paintings.

The video ends with the narrator/tour guide walking the grounds of the Olana State Historic Site, allowing us to once again experience the natural and man-made beauty Frederic Church called home. Church’s talent, vision and appreciation for nature, beauty, travel, and culture, has given us and future generations a special place to enjoy treasures of the Catskills and the world. It’s a place that embodies the best of man and nature… and captures the essence of the region.