My best friend was recently married at a historic home in upstate New York overlooking the Hudson River. As the couple took their vows, the magnificent backdrop sparkled in the warm, autumn sunlight, and the sweeping hills seemed to dwarf all of us in their splendor. It was easy to see why this part of the country inspired a whole school of painting dedicated to preserving the vast beauty of the 19th century American landscape.

Now through April 1, you can experience the beauty of the Hudson River without experiencing the subzero temperatures of upstate New York at the Columbia Museum of Art’s new exhibit Nature and the Grand American Vision: Masterpieces of the Hudson River School Painters.

In the early 1800s, American artists began developing their own unique style and point of view. For inspiration, they looked to the then-wild and untamed American landscape. For the painters like those featured in this exhibition, the majesty of the untouched mountains, rivers and forests represented spiritual purity and were a source of pride as they developed a national identity in the aftermath of revolution.

The 45 paintings on display at the Columbia Museum are on loan from the New York Historical Society, who curated Nature and the Grand American Vision as a way to share their immense collection of Hudson River School paintings while their space undergoes a massive renovation effort. The tour’s stop in Columbia is its only one in the southeast.

In coordination with the exhibit, special events are planned throughout the winter including lectures, art tours, educational workshops, concerts and even a yoga class that uses the exhibit’s images as a source of motivation. For a complete schedule of special events, click here.

The Columbia Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to Nature and the Grand American Vision, which runs now through April 1, is $12 and includes regular museum admission.

For more information, click here.