East Hampton — Moran's Secret Sketchbook

Your quest for the sketchbook begins at the Village Green, East Hampton's communal heart since the 17th century. This historic gathering place, linked to the village's founding in 1648, offers a distinguished view of the Town Pond. As the gateway to the Main Street Historic District, the Village Green is the ideal starting point for your exploration of New York's heritage. Here you will find the first clues scattered by Thomas Moran, perhaps a quick sketch of the pond, marking the beginning of his artists' colony in the village, which would become a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Continue to the South End Cemetery, a historic East Hampton cemetery dating from the 17th century, where early settlers rest. This site, though different from Thomas Moran's colorful landscapes, offers a glimpse into the local history that shaped the village's character. Here you will discover discreet symbols and engraved dates, witnesses to a bygone era, which might hold clues about the artist's darker inspirations or intimate reflections. The cemetery, located near downtown, is an integral part of the East Hampton visit and its rich past.

Your path then leads to the Home Sweet Home Museum, located at 14 James Lane, less than 500 meters from the Village Green. This 18th-century house, restored in a Victorian style, is associated with John Howard Payne and his famous 1823 song 'Home Sweet Home.' Thomas Moran, known for his sense of home and attachment to East Hampton, may have left a message here. This museum, integrated into your thematic circuit, offers a glimpse into New York's colonial past while bringing you closer to the hidden clues of the sketchbook.

Arrive at the Thomas & Mary Nimmo Moran Studio, at 229 Main Street. Built in 1884 by Thomas Moran, this was the first artist's studio in East Hampton, a fact that marks the beginning of the village's artists' colony. Described as a 'quirky studio cottage' in the Queen Anne style, it became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Its five-year restoration, completed in 2018, preserved this historic site. It is here, with a view of the Village Green and Town Pond, that you hope to find the heart of the mystery, perhaps sketches or secret notes revealing the sketchbook's final location.

Your exploration of East Hampton culminates with stops at the East Hampton Library and Guild Hall. The historic library, near Main Street, holds collections on Thomas Moran and his family, including sketches of East Hampton. Guild Hall, founded in 1931 at 158 Main Street, less than 300 meters from the Village Green, houses Moran's works, such as 'Montauk Lighthouse' (1879). These places, symbols of New York's artistic district, provide you with the final pieces of the puzzle, allowing you to reconstruct the artist's creative journey and discover the heritage of the Hamptons, right in the heart of this walking tour of East Hampton.