Introduction
An architectural structure is a construction that is motionless and free-standing. This kind of construction can be permanent or temporal. Classic examples of permanent structures include bridges, electricity pylons, dams, and radio masts – which can be further categorized as buildings or non-building structures. On the other hand, temporal structures are built for short-lived events like conference or theatre, agricultural shows, and are thus destroyed after use.
With regards to permanent architectural structures, historical structures are durable and they serve a purpose in preserving the prevailing culture during their construction in future; most of these structures are open to the outside environment as opposed to enclosed structures such as buildings (Place 5). Therefore, the aim of this essay is to discuss the architectural structures found in the Hudson River. It looks at the historical structures and buildings, and outlines the methods used to erect such structures, style, and symbolism of the architectures. A comparison of buildings found along the Hudson River is elaborated in the paper, considering the different architectural styles.
Hudson River
The Hudson River is 507 kilometers long and flows from north to south of the New York City. The river starts from Lake Tear of The Clouds, flows past Albany, and thus creates the boundary between New York City and New Jersey at its sink before entering into Upper New York Bay. According to The New York Public Library, The Hudson River is among the most valuable geographical features in America.
This is because of the towns and architectural structures that are nearby the river. Before its discovery by Henry Hudson in the year 1609, the river was the main means of transport for the Native Americans. Consequently, the river opened trade ways for most of traders around the regions as it enhanced the way trade was carried out between Canada and America. This attracted travelers who would then set up structures that are now known as historical architectures. The river’s impressive scenery – the Palisades, the Catskills, and the Hudson Highlands – were very popular around the globe. The river and its environment became renowned among various writers and artists because of its beauty and location.
Consequently, Hudson River is an outstanding American cultural region because it played a major role during the dramatic Revolutionary War, thus becoming the world’s most efficient water route to the American West. Small farmhouses and farms first owned by Dutch and Germans settlers, upper-class buildings on private lands, and towns near the river interrelate to create an artistic landscape of amazing mixture and texture.
This is the history that has made the river to become one of the major drives for American Romanticism Movement to have motivated the world. Furthermore, most of inventions in relation to trade and transport originated from the area surrounding the Hudson River. For instance, The “DeWitte Clinton” locomotive was first tested on the road build near the river (Ford Collection), thus increasing the popularity of the region; which led to major structures and buildings being constructed along the river and the towns surrounding it. In relation to tourism, Hudson River serves as one of the major tourist location in America, particularly in New York City.
West Point and other wars sites attracted many tourists in the 19th century, but more importantly the architectural structures like the natural scenery and the historical houses that surround the river were major attractions for visitors (The New York Library). In this light, the following section looks at the historical structures that are near the Hudson River, which in turn serve as major depiction of the American culture in art and also literature.
Architectural Structures
Architects, artists, and writers were prominent in the Hudson River during the historical times of the 19th century. Because of their Romantic fascination with the wilds of the Americas, they tried to depict the area along the river through structures, drawings, and poems. The combination of these artistic talents resulted to a more acknowledged scenery of the American history in New York. The appearance of historic towns and buildings along the Hudson River acted as prominent architectural landmarks evident from the river that fascinated travelers’ attention.
The Hudson Valley is a unique and wide architectural area with buildings and structures which have stood for almost four centuries ranging from elite buildings to middle level farmhouses. Before Europeans settlement, the valley was a green garden, supplied by water through the river and its tributaries. Ever since, the region has acquired progressive prosperity and development in regard to cultural sceneries containing various types, classes and periods of architecture in American history.
Consequently, the heritage of modern settlers includes some of the prominent examples of earliest methods of architecture, landscaping, and interiors. Looking at the way the structures were built and laid out, we are able to depict the knowledge that such architectures had some cultural significance in line with the character of people and their likeliness (Hudson). Architecture shows how people perceive things and their general practice in relation to society and culture.
The way the structures were constructed along the river depended mostly around the people who settled near the Hudson River; according to their preferences and culture. Many prominent people termed the Valley home, among them D. Roosevelt, whose estate at the Hyde Park served as his harbor and his place of death. More so, several architectural structures in the Mid-Hudson area are related with numerous divisions of the Livingstone family; the members included political masters, war heroes, and prominent authors.
At the middle of the New York society, the Mills and Vanderbilt families, whose estates were at the region, enjoyed the richness of the American Renaissance at the start of last century. Because of the dramatic landscapes at the Hudson Valley, many artists were attracted to the region and thus the Hudson River School of Painting was invented to enhance and preserve the culture and norms of the region through artistic documentation.
In elaborating style and effects of the architectural structures in historic and present times, Ford Collection outlines that the estates in the region are different considering the fact that different architects and owners procured them. Starting with Clermont’s Federal severity to Lyndhurst’s Gothic palace, major American living styles over the historic period are represented in the region. The architectures have different styles, unique gardening, and finer representation of artwork, furnishings, and other valuable materials that were used in those historical times and still preserved in their condition. The structures or rather buildings are filled with materials that represent personal possessions in order to give light on the notion that people who lived in them had certain cultures and preferences in their homes(Hudson).
Furthermore, having the idea of constructing structures which can be durable may be depicted from the architectural structures along the Hudson River. Several organizations maintain the buildings through proper attention and dedication so as to allow the unique structures to stand even in the present times. For instance, the Historic Hudson Valley is an organization that maintains the structure in Sleepy Hollow region; these estates include Kyut, Montgomery place and Philipsburg Manor. Also, the National Park Service maintains other estates in the region; these include Springwood, Locust Grove, and Val-Kill (New York Public Library). In this light, the next section analyses two estates in different towns representing the historical architectural structures.
Kykuit and Olana Estates
The Kyut estate which is in Sleepy Hollow town and Olana estate which is in Hudson town are some of the historic buildings in the Hudson River. The major similarities between these buildings or rather estates are that both were inherited and purchased from their previous owners, they are maintained until now and they thus act as tourist sites. The differences lie on the exterior and interior design of these structures. Thus, the following paragraphs explain these sites in order to depict their outstanding characteristics.
The Kykuit estate is one of the houses of Rockefeller family. It is a granite Georgian building that is constructed above a sequence of stone terraces and gardens. The structures are well furnished and it includes sculptures which as compared to Olana estate are minimal. The various artists responsible for the enormous work include Pablo Picasso, Henry More, David Smith, and many more. Consequently, the structure houses Rockefeller’s classical items such as automobile and carriages. On the other hand, the Olana estate was the home of Fred Church, an architect. It is enjoys both architecture and landscape like the Kykuit estate.
The interior paintings are by Church and Cole and thus depict a historic beauty for tourists. Furthermore the landscaping of Olana depicts a Romantic style while that of Kykuit does not emphasize on the style of literature (Hudson).
Conclusion
Therefore, many historical architectural structures depict the most stylistic art of design and construction in relation to their owners and cultural preferences. Learning from such structures enable us to have an open mind in the planning, design, and implementation of architectural structures that can sustain the rampage brought by the changes in time. One of the historical sites is the Hudson River; this river holds most of the Americas prominent sites in regard to culture and the general political revolution.
Many historical structures are found along the river, and these include structures in Kykuit, Olana, Mills Mansion, Locust Grove, and Boscobel estates. Furthermore, the historic structures are maintained by certain institutions in order to maintain their shape and value. The major style that is depicted in their paintings is the Romanticism style, and this outlines the Romanticism movement. However, these structures are distinguishable by their styles of construction and the general landscaping.
Works Cited
Ford Collection. River Hudson, together with descriptions and illustrations of the city of New York, Catskill Mountains. New York, A. Harthill, 1859.
Hudson River. Estates of the Hudson Valley. 2009. Web.
New York Public Library. A Hudson River Portfolio. 2001. Web.
Place, Wayne. Architectural Structures. New Jersey: Wiley. 2007.