Thomas Cole National Historic Site Calls For Last-Minute Hudson River School of Art Contest Entries

This fall, enjoy hiking, American art and fall foliage in the Great Northern Catskills of New York on the Hudson River School Art Trail, a series of 17 hiking trails that offer visitors the chance to experience the views that captivated the Hudson River School painters - and enter to win a weekend getaway in the mountains.

At each of the first nine hiking trail destinations, a special metal plaque with a rubbing medallion has been installed, allowing visitors to do a pencil rubbing as a keepsake. The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, in partnership with Olana State Historic Site, are sponsoring the Hudson River School Art Trail contest, an artistic hiking experience that follows in the footsteps of America's premier landscape painters, and ends with the chance to win a weekend getaway to the Catskill Mountains.

How the Hudson River School Art Trail Contest Works:

Each metal plaque features a rubbing medallion with a drawing of the view in raised relief so that participants can easily capture the scene by placing a piece of paper over the design and rubbing it with pencil, crayon or charcoal. The plaques also include a QR code that can be scanned by smartphones so that visitors can "check in" and also get more information.

To participate in the Hudson River School of Art Trail Contest, simply complete the nine rubbings and present them to either the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, or the Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, to be automatically entered in a special grand prize drawing for a chance to win a weekend getaway to the Catskills to the Kaaterskill Mountain Club in Hunter.

The grand prize package to the Kaaterskill Mountain Club includes two nights' accommodations at the elegant mountain resort. Blackout dates apply during holidays and festival weekends. The contest is open to entries through November 3 and the winner will be notified via email. Don't miss your chance to explore the Catskill Region's unparalleled outdoor recreation on the Hudson River School Art Trail.

The Hudson River School Art Trail Contest is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Cole National Historic Site.