A New York State Historic Marker was built at the Long Lake Town Beach in order to commemorate Hudson River School founder and painter Thomas Cole, who visited the town in 1846.

This newly installed sign is located at 1258 Main St. and was funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for the New York State Historic Marker Program.

The project was spear headed by Historian and Adjunct Professor at SUNY New Paltz, P. Matthew DeLaMater, who is also a Long Lake part-time resident, as well as the Long Lake Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Director, Alexandra Roalsvig with support of the Long Lake Town Board.

DeLaMater researched and presented a lecture for the Long Lake Historical Society in 2015 that showcased Thomas Cole’s visit to Long Lake in 1846, identifying works which Cole created featuring landscapes reflected in his visits to the town. Thomas Cole is regarded as the founder of the Hudson River School, and one of the great American artists of the past. The school was part of an art movement that flourished mid 19th century and was known for its realistic and intricate portrayal of American landscapes and wildernesses, heavy with themes of romanticism.