World-class art in the Adirondacks: Inside The Hyde Collection
An ADK Talks podcast episode.
Photos courtesy The Hyde Collection
If you think you have to head to Boston or New York City for a world-class museum day, this episode may change your plans.
On this installment of ADK Talks, I’m joined by Bryn Schockmel, Curator of the Permanent Collection & Related Exhibitions at The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, NY—an intimate, boutique fine art museum where Old Masters, modern icons, and deeply human stories coexist under one roof.
And yes: this is the museum with a Rembrandt. In Glens Falls. Twenty minutes south of Lake George. Halfway between Saratoga and the Adirondacks. (If you just did a double-take, you’re in good company.)
Why this episode is worth your time.
The Hyde is one of those places that quietly exceeds expectations. It’s not a sprawling, exhausting “museum marathon.” It’s a house museum—a former home that still feels lived-in—and that changes everything about the experience.
“Geraniums,” Childe Hassam American, 1859 - 1935. Photo courtesy The Hyde Collection.
You can slow down. You can actually stand in front of a painting without a crowd nudging you along. You can wander into room after room and feel like you’re discovering something, not checking boxes.
In our conversation, Bryn explains why The Hyde feels so personal, and why that’s exactly what makes it such a compelling destination—especially for winter visitors looking for an indoor outing that feels genuinely enriching (without being intimidating).
A quick snapshot: Who were Charlotte and Louis Hyde?
The Hyde Collection exists because of Louis and Charlotte Hyde, who built their home in Glens Falls in 1912 and began collecting art almost immediately—not to complete a “history of art,” but to live with the things they loved.
Bryn shares how their approach still shapes The Hyde today: the museum doesn’t feel like a palace; it feels like a home with extraordinary taste and an open door.
The Hydes also had deep roots in Glens Falls through the Pruyn family and the Finch-Pruyn paper mill, a piece of local history that helped shape the region—and, ultimately, the museum’s legacy.
A museum that surprises even seasoned travelers.
Christ with Arms Folded (c. 1657–1661) oil-on-canvas portrait by Rembrandt van Rijn, housed at the Hyde Collection.
Bryn shares insight into a moment many visitors experience: the surprise of realizing that this “small city in upstate New York” houses works by artists they associate with major metropolitan institutions.
The Hyde is sometimes likened to a smaller-scale version of Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Bryn explains why that comparison makes sense—from the home’s courtyard-centered design to the lived-in intimacy of the galleries.
Not an “art person”? The Hyde is still for you.
This episode is especially for listeners who’ve ever thought: Museums are lovely, but… I don’t really know what I’m looking at.
Bryn offers practical, welcoming ways to experience the museum:
Take a guided tour (the docents are excellent)
Try an audio guide or self-paced materials
Most importantly: slow down and let one or two works grab you
Because The Hyde isn’t overwhelming, it’s a rare museum where you can actually spend time with the art—and discover what you like without pressure.
What not to miss on your first visit.
Late in the episode, we ask Bryn the question every first-timer wants answered: What should I absolutely not miss? Her short list is a great “first visit” roadmap—one that makes planning simple even if you’re not a frequent museum-goer.
“A Good One, Adirondacks” by Winslow Homer,1889. Original Medium: watercolor. Photo courtesy The Hyde.
The exhibition planning that takes years (and the art that travels the world).
If you’ve ever wondered how exhibitions come together, Bryn pulls back the curtain. We talk about why planning often takes two-plus years, how borrowing works, and why museum-to-museum relationships matter.
One of the most delightful behind-the-scenes stories in the episode: Bryn describes acting as a courier for an artwork traveling internationally—complete with a custom climate-controlled crate and a behind-the-scenes view of the cargo side of a major airport.
It’s a reminder that museums aren’t static places. They’re active participants in a global cultural network—even here in the Adirondack foothills.
A current exhibition, Bryn shares a passion project.
We also talk about a current exhibition, A Feast of Fruit and Flowers, focused on women still-life painters of the seventeenth century and beyond.
Without spoiling the full story, you’ll hear why this show matters, how it came together, and what visitors can expect—especially if you love the intersection of art, history, and the natural world.
Fede Galizia (Italian, ca. 1578-ca. 1630), Still Life with Apples, Pears, Cucumbers, Figs, and a Melon, ca. 1625-1630, Oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington.
What’s coming up at The Hyde.
Bryn also shares a preview of upcoming exhibitions and collaborations—smart timing if you like to plan trips around what’s on view.
This is exactly the kind of “add it to the itinerary” intel ADK Talks listeners love.
Make it a day trip (or a smart detour).
Glens Falls is an easy add-on if you’re already in the region—Lake George, Bolton Landing, Saratoga, or anywhere in the southern Adirondacks.
It’s also a great “non-skiers win too” plan: if someone in your group is hitting the slopes, The Hyde is a strong alternative for a Saturday afternoon.
Listen now.
You can listen to this episode right here on ADKTaste.com, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
And if you’re planning a visit, explore tours, events, and exhibitions at hydecollection.org.
One more thing: If you enjoy ADK Talks, please subscribe, rate, and review—it helps more people find these stories and the region we love.
Mentioned in this podcast.
The Hyde Collection (Glen Falls, NY)
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, MA)
National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC)
Fenimore Art Museum (Cooperstown, NY)
The Clark Art Institute (Williamstown, MA)
Vassar College Art Center (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA)
Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon
The Frick Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Lake Placid Olympic Museum (Lake Placid, NY)
Adirondack Experience: The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake in NY
Places to stay, shop, eat, and things to do near Glens Falls.
Shop for unique Adirondack apparel, gifts and merchandise.
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