Byrdcliffe Colony

Byrdcliffe Colony is an artist settlement with more than 30 original buildings in the Arts and Crafts style spread across hillside terrain in the Catskill Mountains. The structures feature handcrafted details and were originally designed as combined living and workshop spaces for different artisans.

The site was founded in 1902 as a response to industrial mass production, aiming to encourage artists to create high-quality handcrafted goods instead. The founders believed that beauty and craftsmanship should go hand in hand and form part of everyday living.

The name blends the surnames of its two founders and remains a working space where artisans pass down handcraft traditions through teaching and apprenticeship in the original buildings. Visitors can observe how makers practice woodworking, metalworking, and textile crafts in their daily routines.

The grounds are best explored on foot, and marked trails lead through the buildings and gardens with varying difficulty depending on the terrain. Wear comfortable shoes since the site is hilly and some paths may be unpaved or uneven.

Every summer, the original buildings welcome dozens of artists from various disciplines to live and work on site, keeping the colony continuously active for over a century. These residencies allow visitors to watch contemporary artists create directly in the historic workshop spaces.

Location: Woodstock

Founders: Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead

Website: http://woodstockguild.org/about-byrdcliffe

GPS coordinates: 42.05389,-74.13806

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42