Watson and Louise Bascom Barratt, his wife, lived part-time in Highlands. He was a longtime supporter of the Hudson Library, and his bequest to found a gallery within the new library was visionary at the time. Creating an exhibition space and permanent collection in a village of just a few hundred residents distinguished Highlands as a progressive community committed to nurturing its local and regional talents and to celebrating its natural assets.

Even though Barratt died in 1962, his dream lived on. The plans for building the modern Hudson Library building incorporated proceeds from the estate. The Bascom-Louise Gallery within the new library was a solid volunteer endeavor that evolved over time.

In 1999, the Hudson Library and the Bascom-Louise Gallery amicably decided to separate their operations. The art center received its own not-for-profit 501(c)3 status, formed its own Board of Directors, wrote its own bylaws and hired its own staff. As an independent non-profit, the art center grew even more rapidly. It quadrupled its exhibit schedule over a six-year period, bringing in exceptional two- and three-dimensional work from all over the Southeast.

In 2009 “The Bascom” opened it’s doors at the new state-of-the-art home: a public, six-acre "green" campus with a 27,500 sq. ft. main building, multiple studios devoted to a range of art media, covered bridge signature entrance, creek-side nature trail, outdoor terrace and more.

Today, The Bascom is a beloved creative resource for art lovers and artists at all ability levels, as well as the community as a whole. Programming includes expansive community outreach, a wide range of exhibitions, high-quality art workshops, a permanent art collection, and community events.