General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment: Thomas Cole National Historic Site

2004·7.1 MB·English

by  National Park Service

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U.S. Departmentofthe Interior
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Thomas
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Thomas Cole National Historic Site
General Management Plan and Environnnental Assessment
2004
Thomas Cole National Historic Site
218 Spring Street
Catskill, NY 12414
tel. [phone]
fax:[phone]
http://www.thomascole.org
National Park Service
Northeast Region
Parle Planning & Special Studies Division
Boston Office
15 State Street
Boston, MA02109-3572
tel. [phone]
fax: [phone]
PUBLIC d66umenYs
DEPOSITORY ITEM
i
a
SEP 7 2004
I
CLEMSON c
L13FIARY IS
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To see the report online, please see http://www.thoma5Cole.org 1
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Thomas Cole National Historic Site
General Management Plan and Environnnental Assessnnent
Table of Contents
5 Executive Summary
7 I. Context of Plan
7 PurposeoftheGeneralManagementPlan
8 DevelopmentandLegislativeHistoryoftheThomasColeNationalHistoricSite
11 SiteDescription
12 VisitorUseatThomasColeNHS
12 ThomasColeandCedarGrove
15 Cole'sInfluenceonAmericanCulture
17 II. Planning Background and Issues
17 Methodology
18 PlanningIssues
HistoricStructures
Interpretation
VisitorServices
CulturalLandscape
Collections
TransportationAccess
HudsonRiverArtTrail
PartnershipswithOtherHeritage,Cultural,andTourismEntities
21 III. Resource Analysis
21 HistoricStructures
21 CulturalLandscape
22 Collections
22 TransportationAccess
24 Archeology
25 IV. Purpose Goals and Themes
25 PurposeandSignificanceoftheThomasColeNationalHistoricSite
SitePurpose
SiteSignificance
28 MissionGoals
30 InterpretiveThemes
31 V. ManagementAlternatives
31 AlternativeOne:ContinuationofCurrentPractices
34 AlternativeTwo:ThomasColeandCedarGrove
40 AlternativeThree:ThomasCole'sArtandtheRegionalLandscape
Concept
VisitorExperience
MainHouse
PaintingStudios
OtherStructures
CulturalLandscape
CollectionsandCollectionStorage
UniversalAccess
Parking
SiteBoundary
ManagementAreas
CarryingCapacity
ConnectiontoOtherHistoricandArt-RelatedSitesintheRegion
HudsonRiverSchoolArtTrail
SiteOperations
SummaryofAlternative
66 ElementCommontoEachAlternative-RelationshipbetweentheThomasColeNHSandthe
NationalParkService
66 AlternativesConsideredbutNotProposed
69 VI. Affected Environment
69 NaturalResources
Topography
Soils
FloodplainandWetlands
VegetationandWildlife
AirQuality
70 CulturalResources
HistoricLandscape
HistoricStructures
ArcheologicalResources
Collections
72 SocioeconomicEnvironment
LocalEconomy
TourismintheHudsonValley
EconomicImpactofThomasColeNHS
LandUse
75 VII. Environmental Assessment
75 AlternativeOne:ContinuationofCurrentPractices
76 AlternativeTwo:ThomasColeandCedarGrove
78 AlternativeThree:ThomasCole'sArtandtheRegionalLandscape
ImpactsonVisitorExperience
ImpactsonCulturalResources
ImpactsonNaturalResources
ImpactsonSiteOperations
ImpactsonVisitationandtheSocioeconomicEnvironment
ImpactsonTrafficandParking
Non-impairmentofResources
84 SummaryofImpactsofAlternatives
85 VIII. Consultation and Public Involvement
89 IX. Endnotes
91 X. Appendixes
91 AppendixA:EnablingLegislation
94 AppendixB:CostEstimates
97 AppendixC:CompliancewithFederal,State,andLocalLaws,ExecutiveOrders,andRegulations
100 AppendixD:SelectedBibliography
102 AppendixE:ListofPreparersandAdvisors
ThomasCole,Daguerreotype,c.1844-46.LibraryofCongress,PhotographsandPrintsDivision[LC-USZ62-53759]
4 ThomasColeNational HistoricSite
Summary
Executive
In 1999, the U.S. Congress designated the home ofThomas Cole, at 218
Spring Street, Catskill, New York, a National Historic Site (NHS). The Tho-
mas Cole NHS is not a unit managed by the National Park Service (NPS),
but is an "affiliated area" ofthe national park system managed by the
Greene County Historical Society and a designated board ofgovernors.
Public Law 106-146, which established the Thomas Cole National Historic
Site in 1999, calls for the NPS to prepare a general management plan (GMP)
for the site. The purpose ofthis document is to develop plans for the preser-
vation and interpretation ofthe site and define the role and responsibility of
the NPS with regard to the site.
TheThomasCole National Historic Site General Studio and useitasan artgalleryand meeting
"Let me transport Management Plan (GMP) setsforth manage- space and develop atrailofwayside exhibitsin
you to those wild mentalternativesthatdirectfuture developments the Hudson RiverValleyand Catskill Mountains,
blue mountains atthisNHS.Therearethreealternatives: (i) which inspired manyoftheworksofColeand
That rear their Continuation ofCurrentManagementPractices hiscontemporaries.AlternativeThree isthe rec-
summits near the (National Park Servicepolicyrequiresthat ommended alternative,preferredbythe Board of
GMPs considerthe alternativeofmakingno GovernorsoftheThomasCole NHS.
Hudson's wave..."
changestothe currentsituation); (2)Thomas
Thomas Cole, "TheWild" Cole andCedarGrove; (3)ThomasCole'sArt TheThomas ColeNHSwould tellthestoryof
andthe RegionalLandscape. ThomasCole'sartthroughthebuildingswhere
he lived andworked. Cole resided (1836-1848),
AlternativeOne:Continuation ofCurrentMan- raised afamily,and died in themain house
agementPracticeswould make nosignificant lookingout toward hisbeloved Catskills.The
changesatthesite,operations,orthevisitorex- main house. Storehouse Studio, and anew
perience.AlternativeTwo:ThomasCole and buildingresemblingthe demolished New Stu-
Cedar Grovewould rehabilitateThomas Cole's diowould offeran excellentopportunityto
StorehouseStudio and open itto the publicand interpretCole's creative journey.The site's in-
develop a Hudson RiverArtTrail brochure and terpretive themeswould also include Cole's
map.Thisalternative would focus on Cole's life influence on the Hudson River School ofland-
atCedarGrove. scape paintingand on the nature conservation
movementinAmerica.
AlternativeThree:ThomasCole'sArtand the Re-
gional Landscapewould have theprimarygoal Thevisitorwouldbegiven an introduction to
ofinterpretingthe lifeandworkofartistThomas ThomasColeand his lifeatCedarGrovein
Coleand hisconnectiontopaintingsitesinthe Cole'sStorehouse Studio,whichwould serveas
HudsonValleyand Catskill Mountains.This an orientation facility forvisitors.The section of
would include interpretingCole's connection to the Storehouse Studiothatserved asCole'sstu-
otherartists ofthe Hudson RiverSchool,of diowouldbeusedtointerprethisart,whilethe
which heis considered thefounder. In addition otherspace,once used forstorage,wouldpro-
totheprojects included inAlternativeTwo,Al- videvisitorservicesand abookshop.Anew
ternativeThreewould reconstructCole's New buildingresemblingthe New Studiowouldbe
constructedbecausethe landscaperepresenting withthe national heritage areabecausethaten-
Cole's eraatCedarGrovewouldbe incomplete tityhas adopted "Natureand Culture" asoneof
withoutit. Sincepaintingsareimportantforin- itsthreemajorinterpretivethemes.
terpretingColeand the Hudson RiverSchool,it
is desirabletocreate high-qualitygalleryspaceto The exhibitionofcontemporaryartrelated to
exhibitworksofart.The reconstructed New ThomasColeand the Hudson RiverSchooland
Studiowould displayartbyThomasColeand publiceducationprogramswouldbesubsidiary
Hudson RiverSchoolartists.Thegroundsofthe prioritiestobeundertakenasresourcespermit.
ThomasColeNHSwouldbe restored totheir Contemporaryartprogramscould include ex-
appearancein Cole'stime.Thelandscapewould hibits,an artist-in-residenceprogram,children
beinterpretedtoexplain lifeatCedarGrove andadultarteducation,and an elderhostel.The
duringCole'seraand howthesite hasevolved programscould includeteachingpaintingaswell
sincethen. asarthistory. Exhibitingcontemporaryartfrom
the Hudson Valleycouldbeundertaken toa
AnimportantaspectoftheThomasCole NHS greaterextentifthegalleryspacein theNew
mission istointerpretthe surroundinglandscape Studiois completed.
thatinspired Cole and otherpaintersofthe
Hudson RiverSchool. Withina15-mile radius of Thisplan includesan environmentalassessment
Cole'shouseinCatskill,NY,significantlandscapes ofpossible impacts relatedtothealternatives.
paintedbyColeand otherHudson Riverartists, Thisassessmentfindsthatthepotentialimpacts
includingFredericChurch and Sanford Gifford, are notsignificant,although additionalvisitors
survive intact.AHudson RiverSchoolArtTrail will contributetothe localeconomy.
wouldprovidean unparalleled opportunityto
studyAmerican art in itsgeographic context. TheGMPestimatesthecostsofeach manage-
mentalternative.TheThomasColeNHSwould
TheThomasCole NHS isintended to connect competeforfundingannuallyforexisting
visitorswithothersitesinthearearelated to authorizedNFSprogramswithrecurringappro-
ThomasColeand the Hudson RiverSchool.The priationssuchas Line Item Construction,
ThomasCole NHSwould encouragevisitorsto Repair/Rehab,Cyclic,and CulturalCyclic.Any
visitnearbyOlana,the homeofCole'spupil federalassistancewillbesubjecttoNFS
FredericChurch,andundertakepartnership prioritiesand available funds.Theabilityofthe
programswithOlana.TheThomasCole NHS, ThomasColeNHStoattractothersourcesof
which lieswithin the Hudson RiverValleyNa- fundingwillspeed completionoftheprojects
tional HeritageArea,willworkinpartnership outlined inthisGMF.
6 ThomasColeNational HistoricSite
Context of the Plan
I.
Purpose ofthe General Management Plan ThomasColeNHS isnotaunitmanagedbythe
This documentservestwopurposes: (i) itisa National ParkService,butisan "affiliatedarea"
draftgeneral managementplan (GMP) forthe ofthe nationalpark system managedbythe
ThomasColeNational HistoricSite,and (2) it is GreeneCountyHistorical Societyand adesig-
GMP
an environmentalassessment (EA) forthe natedboardofgovernors.
thatassessestheprobableimpactsofthealterna-
"ThepainterThomas tiveactionsproposedintheGMP. Thepurposeofthis documentistodevelop
plansforthe preservation and interpretation of
Cole was thefirst to TheThomasColeNHSGMPis moredetailed the site and define the role and responsibilityof
reside both summers than therecommendedGMPguidelinesofthe theNPSwithregard tothesite.TheGMPde-
andwinters in the National Park Service in Director'sOrder-2 finesthebasicphilosophyofthe site's
Catskills, and in so (DO-2). Due tothe small size ofthe siteand managementand providesbroadguidanceto
doingaroused the thefactthatthisNPSaffiliated areaisinvolved thosewhomake the decisionsthataffectthe
curiosity ofthepublic! inspecificprojectson-site,itsboardwanted site'sresourcesand itsvisitors.AGMPsetsthe
GMP
HansHuth, tousethe process to develop specific direction forresourceprotection andvisitoruse
Nature andtheAmerican programmaticactions, notsimplybroadpre- in consultationwith thepublic.TheThomas
scription statements. Cole NHSandthe NPSwill adopttheGMP
findingsand usethem toguidethe management
Ageneral managementplan (GMP) isprepared ofthesiteand theirrelationshiptoeach otherfor
andperiodicallyupdatedforeach unitoftheNa- aperiod of10to20years.
tional Park Service. In designatingthe homeof
ThomasCole,at218 SpringStreet,Catskill,New To develop aGMP,theboard oftheThomas
York,aNational Historic Site (NHS),Congress ColeNHSand the NPSmustclearlydefineand
stipulated thatthissite complete aGMP.The understand the site'spurpose,significance,and
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CedarGrove,byFredericEdwinChurch,October, 1848.Church'ssketch,showingmainhouse,privy,andNewStudio(Itor)andfencealong
SpringStreet, providesaguideforfuturerestorationattheThomasColeNHS.CourtesyoftheNewYorkStateOfficeofParks,Recreationand
HistoricPreservation, OlanaStateHistoricSite.
ThomasCole'sHouse,byCharles
HerbertMoore, 1868.Courtesyof
EdithColeSllberstein.
goals. In ordertofocusattentionand limited ment,a FindingofNo Significant Impact
fundingon theresourcesthatmattermost,the (FONSI) willbeprepared in accordancewith
GMPmustpresentanunderstandingofthesite's NEPArequirements.
purpose and the reasonCongress designated it
an affiliated areaofthe nationalparksystem. Developmentand Legislative Historyofthe
GoalsdescribetheidealsthatNPSand theTho- ThomasCole National HistoricSite
masColeNHSstrivetofollowandthegeneral ThomasCole's homeatCedarGrovewasdesig-
conditionsthatmustbe metforthesiteto nated anationalhistoriclandmark (NHL) in
achieve itsmission.Takentogether,thepurpose, recognition ofits nationalsignificance in 1965.
significance,andgoalsformthefoundationfor The housewassoldbyCole'sgreat-granddaugh-
thefuture courseofthesite. terEdith Cole Silberstein in 1979totheCatskill
CenterforConservation and Development. Mrs.
The impacts ofeachalternative are described in Silberstein had held an auction in 1964tosellart-
the environmentalassessment (EA),whichis worksandartifactsfrom her housethatwere
prepared to satisfythe requirements ofthe Na- connected toThomasCole.TheCatskill Center
tional Environmental PolicyAct (NEPA) of intended onlytoserveas acaretakerforthe his-
1969,as amended.The draft GMP/EAdescribes toric house untilan entitystepped forwardto
the managementalternatives, afterwhich the maintain theproperty.
national historicsite,in consultation with the
NPS and the public, chooses the alternative to In 1981,theCatskillCentersold CedarGroveto
beimplemented. Ifno significant impacts are theThomasCole Foundation,which had been
identified,based upon the environment assess- created tomanagethe historicsite.TheCatskill
8 ThomasColeNational HistoricSite