What ages can attend?

All ages are welcome; children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Is the workshop wheelchair accessible?

The Cole Center, Storehouse, and 1846 New Studio are wheelchair accessible; the Main House first floor uses a lift; the second floor requires stairs.

Check in at the Cole Center ten to fifteen minutes before the start time and use the Spring Street entrance.

Can I bring my own materials?

Yes—participants are encouraged to bring small found objects; the museum provides core materials for box construction.

Are tickets refundable?

Tickets are non-refundable—please plan accordingly.

Pets are welcome on the grounds if leashed but are not permitted inside buildings; service animals are allowed.

create-your-own-mineral-box-thomas-cole-workshop-catskill | Workshop | History Tour

At the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, New York, the monthly Second Saturday Workshop offers a quietly inventive way to spend a morning: Create Your Own Mineral Box, a hands-on session that blends museum study with craft. Held in the Storehouse adjoining Thomas Cole’s original painting studio, the program runs 11 am–2 pm and welcomes families and makers to tour the Main House and view Thomas Cole’s Box of Minerals and Artifacts in the Richard Sharp Gallery before assembling a personal curio container.

The session opens with a short guided look at 19th-century collecting practices that shaped early American curiosity cabinets, followed by work time in the Storehouse where materials are provided and creativity takes over. With a maximum of 12 participants, the workshop keeps a quiet, attentive scale that makes it easy to learn from museum education staff and to ask questions about technique, history, and composition. Participants are encouraged to bring their own found objects to personalize the boxes, while the museum supplies bases, adhesives, and decorative elements.

Practical details are straightforward: check in at the Cole Center ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled start, use the Spring Street entrance, and take advantage of free parking shared with Temple Israel. The site is partially wheelchair accessible—the Cole Center, Storehouse, and 1846 New Studio are wheelchair accessible, and a lift lets visitors reach the first floor of the Main House; the second floor requires stairs. Paths around the property are loose gravel, and pets are welcome on the grounds when leashed, though animals may not enter the buildings.

This workshop is a distinct way to connect with the Hudson River School’s material culture without needing prior studio skills. It’s an artful local offering that highlights the Thomas Cole National Historic Site’s role as both a museum and a place for making: a living link between landscape-inspired art and the tactile practice of collecting. The format suits multigenerational groups—children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult—and the small class size makes it personal rather than performative.

Bring curiosity, a few small found objects if you like, and comfortable shoes for the gravel paths. Tickets are non-refundable and advanced registration is required. For questions, email [email protected] or call 518-943-7465 ext. 122. After the workshop, self-guided museum access is open through 4 pm, giving makers time to see the collection again with fresh eyes and to place their new mineral boxes in a longer historic context.

About Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, New York preserves the home, studio, and landscape associated with Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River School. The site presents guided and self-guided visits, rotating exhibitions, hands-on workshops, seasonal festivals, and group tour packages for diverse audiences.

Programs include curator-led tours, Sunday Salon talks, artist and curator roundtables, craft workshops such as needle-felting and pressed-flower making, plant-dyeing classes, educational teacher workshops, and family events tied to harvest celebrations. The site also interprets Emily Cole’s legacy through exhibitions that feature painted porcelain, works on paper, and contemporary responses to her art.

Museum educators and trained Museum Guides lead visits and workshops, and collaborating historians, curators, and artists contribute expertise to public programs. Group visits accommodate 12 to 40 participants with guided experiences up to seventy-five minutes, followed by access to the on-site gift shop. Special events have included partnerships with local organizations such as Wild Hudson Valley and Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, highlighting regional ecology, agricultural history, and community creativity.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site operates as a steward of historic architecture, landscape, and artistic legacy, offering accessible educational programming for families, students, art lovers, and historians. Visitors to the site encounter curated exhibitions, interactive activities, and opportunities to learn about early nineteenth-century American art and environmental ideas that informed Thomas Cole’s work. Trained Museum Guides answer questions and enhance interpretation for visitors; special exhibitions, rotating programs, and partnerships connect Cole’s art to landscape, regional history, ecological themes, and contemporary artistic practice and education.