Tuesday – October 23, 2012 51 degrees
We were on the road and heading north despite the increasing clouds and a forecast of rain for the nest two days. Our goal was to experience the fall foliage of New England. Many of the trees seemed to be a bit past their prime, but the hills were ablaze in bright orange. We drove along the beautiful Taconic Parkway and arrived in Williamstown, Massachusettes close to 1:00PM. It is a lovely little college town in the north western part of the state.
Fall Foliage on the Parkway
Our initial goal was the Clark Museum which we found easily. Unfortunately, the museum was undergoing major renovations and construction so most of the museum’s famous collection was not on display. The works which were on display in a temporary exhibit were impressive: several Renoirs, Winslow Homers, John Singer Sargents. We made note to return in 2014 when the reconstruction is planned to be completed.
Marble House of the Clark Museum
Closer to the center of town is The Williams College Museum of Art. On exhibit was an eclectic collection of American Art which included an exhibit of early works by Sol DeWitt. We saw a charming painting by Mary Cassat and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. The museum has excellent exhibition spaces and is used by the college as part of their educational programs. Afterwards we drove a few miles along Route 2 to the next town of North Adams.
Interior Stairwell of Williams College Museum of Art
We didn’t have reservations but found a clean comfortable room at the Holiday Inn near the center of town. It was chilly, but we walked around North Adams in the evening to see the shops and galleries. The town has attracted artists since the opening of the Massachusettes Museum of Contemporary Art several years ago and is experiencing a resurgence of popularity.
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