Do you like spending time walking in the countryside? How about taking in some modern sculpture? Well, if you enjoy either or both of these activities, the Storm King Art Center is a great place to visit.
The Storm King Art Center, usually just called Storm King, was founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden. He purchased a 180 acre estate in Mountainville, New York, about an hour north of New York City. He turned the estate’s house into a museum and then placed several statues that he had purchased around its lawn. Over the years the grounds have grown to 500 acres (0.75 mi. sq.), while its collection is now close to 100 statues, created by modern and contemporary artists. Storm King also now owns 2300 acres on Schunemunk Mountain, which guarantees a natural backdrop for much of the artwork on display.
The grounds of Storm King are divided into six areas, but most of the statues are concentrated in the North Woods and Museum Hill. Explore the North Wood by leaving the main route behind and taking the smaller paths that wind their way through this section. You will find many statues, of various sizes, that fit nicely into their natural settings.
From the North Woods, it is a short walk to Museum Hill. Here you will find the Museum Building, which hosts a special exhibit every year. Museum Hill is covered with statues, including one by Louise Nevelson in front of the museum, and a Noguchi on the road as you approach. As you walk to Museum Hill you will have some great views of some the Storm King’s “giants”, the large structures that it is truly famous for.
When I finished at Museum Hill, I headed over to The Maple Rooms. At the center of this grove of trees in one of my favorite statues on display, the Three-legged Buddha.
Storm King is a large outdoor museum, with a lot of ground to cover. There is a tram that runs through the fields, taking 30 minutes to complete the circuit.
There is a cafe located at the edge of the North Woods, but if you want a wider choice for food, the town of Cornwall is a 5 minute drive away. I can highly recommend Fiddlestix Cafe. They are open for lunch and breakfast. I had the Molto Mario sandwich, which was excellent.
If you are in the lower Hudson Valley, or looking for a day trip from New York City, Storm King is a great place to visit.
Nuts and Bolts
- Storm King Arts Center is located at 1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY. It is open from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wed – Mon. Entrance fee is Adult $25/ Senior $22/ Student & Youth $15
- Fiddlestix Cafe, 319 Main Street, Cornwall NY. Open Thur – Tue 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
