The Town of Windham has been a favorite with artists since the early 1800s when Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, Jasper Cropsey, Frederic Church and others made the northern Catskill Mountains their favorite haunt and launched America's first art movement-the Hudson River School of Landscape Painting. The scenery these great artists depicted on their canvasses, some of which sell in the millions of dollars, can still be seen today (and for free!) with a visit to the Town of Windham . One of the highest peaks of Windham's Blackhead Range-Thomas Cole Mountain-pays tribute to the region's contribution to American art, and shrines of the Hudson River School are just a short drive away, like Thomas Cole's Cedar Grove homestead in Catskill and Frederic Church's magnificent Moorish castle, Olana, directly across the Hudson River from Cedar Grove (both are National Historic Landmarks).

Their legacy continues today. There are four art galleries just on Main Street in the Village of Windham alone where contemporary Catskill Mountain artists display their works, and plans are in progress to turn the hamlet of Maplecrest's Sugar Maples Resort-once the largest summer resort in the northern Catskills-into a fine and performing arts center with workshops, retreats, and visiting performers.

For music-lovers, the Windham Chamber Music Festival draws world-class musicians year-round to perform in Windham 's historic Centre Church . The emphasis is on classical music, but the Festival also features great jazz and folk performers.

The annual Civil War reenactment and encampment is just one of many special events that highlight the historical and cultural heritage of the region, while some events are just for fun-like Windham 's annual fall festival, The Autumn A-Fair, featuring rides and games, entertainment, crafts, food, and fun for the whole family.