Visiting Olana

The Olana Partnership will hold its first Olana Third Thursdays on January 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Olana State Historic Site. Olana Third Thursdays are monthly days of free tours of the historic landscape and house, as well as programs for all ages.

On January 18, a special drop-in "Artmaking in the Afternoon" will take place in the Wagon House Education Center for all ages and skill levels. Professional art supplies and refreshments are included.

"Olana State Historic Site's landscape is free and open to all, year round, but monthly Olana Third Thursdays makes every aspect of Olana free, including guided tours and inspiring events like drop-in artmaking, even more accessible to all," said Carolyn Keogh, director of education and public programs at The Olana Partnership.

Photo: Peter Aaron

Visitors on Thursday, January 18, are also invited to attend free tours of the historic landscape, the main house, and the special exhibition "SPECTACLE: Frederic Church and the Business of Art." Space is limited. Participants are required to have a ticket to attend the tour. Tickets can be reserved in advance online. A limited number of tickets will be made available on site that day at the Visitor Center. Tours and programs will be offered in both Spanish and English.

Looking ahead, February's special Olana Third Thursdays program will partner with the Kingston Cacao Lab. This program encourages participants to drop in, peel and taste cacao, ask questions, and sample chocolate. A Lunch & Learn titled "The Underground Railroad Revisited," with Paul and Mary Liz Stewart from the Underground Railroad Education Center in Albany, will also be offered at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 15. Participants can learn more about the history of the Underground Railroad and the work of the Underground Railroad Education Center during the special free lecture celebrating Black History Month. 

In March, Women's History Month will be observed with a Lunch & Learn titled "The Women of Olana," with associate curator Allegra Davis. There will also be a drop-in printmaking workshop.

Generous support for Olana Third Thursdays is provided by Art Bridges Foundation's Access for All program. To learn more about upcoming events and programs and to secure free tickets, visit Olana.org/ThirdThursdays or call 518 751-0344.