Nature
Kaaterskill Clove is a deep gorge in the eastern Catskills, carved by Kaaterskill Creek and reaching about 2,500 feet in depth. Its known modern history began in 1817 when Gilbert Palen built a tannery near the entrance, and the surrounding hemlock forests briefly supported a tannery industry after the War of 1812 before deforestation ended it. Palenville then turned to tourism, linking itself to Rip van Winkle and attracting nineteenth-century artists and walkers. Hudson River School painters and later artists found inspiration in the gorge, while roads, trails, hotels, and overlooks made features such as Kaaterskill Falls and Inspiration Point enduring destinations.
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Palenville, New York · United States
