- No, not the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum
- "Do plan to have lunch at the museum; the menu is top shelf"
Say "Cooperstown, NY" and people naturally think of the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you are a fan, the HOF is a must-see. But many are not aware of the wonderful Fenimore Art Museum located on the northwest side of Cooperstown. In 1944 Stephen Carlton Clark, descendant of the Singer Sewing Machine Company founder, donated the Fenimore House to the New York State Historical Association to house the museum. The impressive neo-Georgian structure on the shore of Otsego Lake occupies the picturesque site of James Fenimore Cooper's 19th century farmhouse.
The Fenimore's permanent collections boast outstanding examples of A
merican artists including from the Hudson River School, such as Thomas Cole and Asher Durand, portraitist Gilbert Stuart, American folk artist Edward Hicks and many other notables. There are distinguished pieces of decorated stoneware, ship figureheads, quilts, trade signs and cigar-store figures. Housed in a recent addition is one of the nation's premier collections of American Indian artifacts. There is also a unique collection of life masks cast from famous Americans such as Thomas Jefferson and Dolley Madison.
Until December 31, 2010, the Fenimore is hosting a premier exhibit of John Singer Sargent titled Portraits in Praise of Women. We saw it recently, and it is fantastic! Paired with the exhibit is the museum’s collection of historic costumes titled Empire Waists, Bustles and Lace.
Cooperstown is beautiful anytime of year, but Fall is by far the most scenic time to visit this quaint town. And with the kids back in school, downtown Cooperstown is a lot easier to navigate. Do plan to have lunch at the museum; the menu is top shelf, and if the weather permits, you’ll be seated on the back patio overlooking the lake. What a view!
Summary: Renowned for its Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY is also home to the Fenimore Art Museum, a destination attraction for lovers of art, antiques and artifacts.
Links: Baseball Hall of Fame, Fenimore Art Museum, James Fenimore Cooper, Hudson River School, John Singer Sargent Virtual Gallery
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