American impressionism was a painting approach intertwined to the European impressionism that features scenic landscapes, bucolic & rural environment and a middle-upper class domestic life. In the late 19th and early 20th century many artist thrived in Connecticut whose idyllic landscape became the point of interest captured in Impressionist painting. Kent Falls area inspired Willard Leyord Metcalf (1858-1925) who painted “November Mosaic”-1922. The painting is exhibited in the New Britain Museum of American Art Site
Kent Falls is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in New England and it’s a 250 feet series of falls which take the shape of horsetails, punch bowls, plunges, cascades, block and fan which ends in the Housatonic River. The hike along the waterfall is just about 0.3 mile one way. Visitors can just follow the ladder and discover each unique fall as they ascend the hike path. Potholes from the glacial ages can be observed.
Close to the lower falls, there are picnic tables and a covered red bridge that cross a river. Up in the upper fall, there are more hike trails for visitors to enjoy. It’s a recreational area worth visiting.
Kent falls state park is one of the fiveviewpoints settings painted by impressionist artists and it is nowadays part ofthe Connecticut’s Millennium Legacy Trail, and the Connecticut impressionistArt Trail.
Need to know
- Entrance fee of $25(cash only)
- Best to visit from April to November
- Swimming is not allowed
- The Lower fall is the only handicap accessed
- Dogs on leashed are allowed.
Five Art Trail Viewpoints
-Gillette Castle State Park Overlook, East Haddam
-Farmington River Walk, Burlington
-Kent Falls State Park, Kent Falls, Kent
-Sherwood Island State Park near the Pavilion, Westport
-Windham Mills State Heritage Park, Willimantic
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