The Papers of Supplementary Series Volume II

by: The Frederick Law Olmsted Papers Project

The Papers of Supplementary Frederick Law Olmsted Series Volume II

by: The Frederick Law Olmsted Papers Project Table of Contents

Supplementary Series volume 2 of the Buffalo, New York North Easton, Massachusetts New London, Connecticut Louisville, Kentucky Central ...... 00 Parkways ...... 00 Memorial Park ...... 00 Memorial Park ...... 00 ...... 00 Frederick Law Olmsted Papers will consist Riverside Park ...... 00 Delaware Park ...... 00 ...... 00 Morningside Park ...... 00 The Front and The Parade ...... 00 Boston, Massachusetts St . Catherine’s, Ontario ...... 00 of historic photographs and plans of the Tompkins Square ...... 00 Charlesbank ...... 00 Montebello Park ...... 00 Baxter Square ...... 00 approximately one hundred public , Union Square ...... 00 , Illinois Commonwealth Avenue ...... 00 Boone Square ...... 00 New York City Small Parks ...... 00 South Park System: Back Bay Fens ...... 00 Niagara Falls, New York Kenton Place...... 00 pleasure grounds, playgrounds, park- Era of 1871–1893 ...... 00 Muddy River/Riverway...... 00 Niagara Reservation ...... 00 Logan Place ...... 00 San Francisco, California World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 ...... 00 Olmsted Park ...... 00 Southern Parkway ...... 00 ways, and scenic reservations designed by Pleasure Grounds System ...... 00 Post-Exposition Redesign and Jamaica Pond ...... 00 Pawtucket, Rhode Island Olmsted and his firm during his years of Construction of ...... 00 Arborway...... 00 Pawtucket Park (Proposed) ...... 00 Marquette, Michigan Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Washington Park, Post–1893 ...... 00 Arnold Arboretum ...... 00 Presque Isle Park ...... 00 practice, 1857–1895. Those projects are Big Tree Reservation ...... 00 , Post–1893...... 00 Franklin Park ...... 00 Wilmington, Delaware Boulevards ...... 00 Columbia Road ...... 00 Kentmere Parkway ...... 00 listed in the table of contents presented Kansas City, Missouri , New York Parkway & Strandway...... 00 11th Street Parkway and here. The first section of this brochure ...... 00 Amherst, Massachusetts Marine Park ...... 00 Trenton, New Jersey Park System (proposed) ...... 00 Fort Greene Park ...... 00 Town Common ...... 00 Boston Harbor Islands project ...... 00 Cadwalader Park ...... 00 illustrates the ten major elements of Olm- Tompkins Park ...... 00 Wood Island Park ...... 00 Milwaukee, Wisconsin sted’s public recreation grounds that will Eastern and Ocean Parkways ...... 00 Baltimore, Maryland Copley Square...... 00 Rochester, New York West Park ...... 00 Mount Vernon Square ...... 00 Charlestown Heights ...... 00 Genesee Valley Park ...... 00 Riverside Park ...... 00 be presented in the volume. The second Bridgeport, Connecticut Charlestown Playground ...... 00 ...... 00 Lake Park...... 00 Seaside Park ...... 00 Mont real, Quebec Seneca Park ...... 00 section demonstrates how a particular Beardsley Park ...... 00 Mount Royal ...... 00 Palmer, Massachusetts Washington Square...... 00 Newburgh, New York aspect of a park will be treated—in this case Palmer Park ...... 00 Franklin Square...... 00 Downing Park ...... 00 New Britain, Connecticut Detroit, Michigan Plymouth Park ...... 00 the scenery of the Ramble in . Elm Hill Park ...... 00 Belle Isle ...... 00 Newport, Rhode Island Morton Park...... 00 Introduction

Frederick Law Olmsted Sr .

The volume will present examples, taken from parks and park systems some areas in dense shade . The volume will present examples, taken from throughout the country, of the following elements of Olmsted’s parks . The parks and park systems throughout the country, of thefollowing elements Ramble in Central Park was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s career of of Olmsted’s park designs . The Ramble in Central Park . his version of the “Picturesque” style of landscape design — the planting of shrubs, vines, and ground cover with the qualities of variety . The volume will present examples, taken from parks and park systems throughout the country, of the following elements of Olmsted’s park de- The Ramble in Central Park was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s signs . The Ramble in Central Park was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s career of his version of the “Picturesque” style of landscape design — the career of his version of the “Picturesque” style of landscape design — the planting of shrubs, vines, and ground cover with the qualities of variety, planting of shrubs, vines, and ground cover with the qualities of variety, intricacy, and delicacy . Through this landscape, Olmsted expressed the intricacy, and delicacy . The volume will present examples, taken from richness and profusion of Nature by dense plantings and the brilliant play parks and park systems throughout the country, of thefollowing elements of light on vegetation . He also evoked the mystery of Nature by obscuring of Olmsted’s park designs . The Ramble in Central Park was the outstand-

Ellicottdale viewed from Ellicott Arch, Franklin Park, Boston: The Ramble in Central Park was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s career of his version of the “Picturesque” style of landscape design — the planting of shrubs, vines, and ground cover . delaware park, buffalo, ny Olmsted Conceptual Drawing planting of this landscape, Olmsted expressed the richness and profusion and profusion this landscape, Olmsted expressed the richness planting of light . The volume Nature by dense plantings and the brilliant play of of and park systems throughout the will present examples, taken from parks Olmsted’s park designs . The Ramble elements of the following country, of his was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s career of in Central Park of landscape design — the planting the “Picturesque” style of version of variety, intricacy . the qualities of shrubs, vines, and ground cover with Through this landscape, Olmsted expressed the richness and profusion light on vegetation . Nature by dense plantings and the brilliant play of of Nature by obscuring some areas in dense He also evoked the mystery of will present examples, taken from parks and park shade . The volume The Ramble in Central Park was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s career of his example in Olmsted’s career of was the outstanding The Ramble in Central Park Ellicottdale viewed from Ellicott Arch, Franklin Park, Boston: Park, Ellicottdale viewed from Ellicott Arch, Franklin Buffalo, New York Buffalo, was the outstanding example in Olmsted’s The Ramble in Central Park landscape design — the the “Picturesque” style of his version of career of variety, qualities of shrubs, vines, and ground cover with the planting of the intricacy, and delicacy . Through this landscape, Olmsted expressed play Nature by dense plantings and the brilliant of richness and profusion Nature by obscuring light on vegetation . He also evoked the mystery of of will present examples, taken from some areas in dense shade . The volume elements thefollowing country, of parks and park systems throughout the Olmsted’s park designs . of example in Olmsted’s was the outstanding The Ramble in Central Park landscape design — the the “Picturesque” style of his version of career of version of the “Picturesque” style of landscape design — the planting of shrubs, vines, and ground cover . landscape design — the planting of the “Picturesque” style of version of Delaware Park With the presence of the Front and Parade to provide venues for active sports and the gathering of crowds, Olmsted was free to design Delaware exclusively for boating and rambling and other activities conducive to contemplation and “unconscious” recreation . The park was dedi- cated to these pursuits in a more consistent and comprehensive way than any of the other parks designed by Olmsted and Vaux .

Plan for Lake and circulation system, Delaware Park, 1874

View from east end of Lake showing headlands and coves, and beaches on north shore . Olmsted, Vaux and Co ., Plan for Delaware Park and Approaches, c . 1870 . Later version with islands removed

300 delaware park 301 delaware park, buffalo, ny

supplementary series volume ii 301

Drive in wooded section near meadow .

View showing matured vegetation of Lake area of showing matured vegetation View , Plan for Delaware Park and Delaware Park and Co ., Plan for Olmsted, Vaux Approaches, c . 1870 . Later version with islands removed Boating near boat house (opposite) 300 View of Lake and Spirehead structure from Centennial Exposition exhibit

302 The editors of the Frederick Law Olmsted Papers wish to Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts Plan of lower Central Park: Courtesy of the Central acknowledge the generous support of the National Endow- Park Conservancy Vista in Iroquois Park, Louisville: Courtesy of Special Collec- ment for the Humanities, The National Endowment for the tions, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville View toward the Cave from the Lake: W . H Guild and Fred . B . Arts, and the National Historical Publications and Records Perkins, The Central Park, Plate 26, Courtesy of the Avery Commission (all Federal agencies), the National Trust Plan of Jackson Park, Chicago, 1871: Courtesy of the National Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University for the Humanities, the National Association for Olmsted Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Parks, and numerous individual donors . Site, Brookline, Massachusetts View from the Cave: Courtesy of Herbert Mitchell Sketch of proposed South Park, Buffalo, 1888: Courtesy of Olm- Rustic Nook in upper Ramble: W . H Guild and Fred . B . Perkins, sted Associates The Central Park, Plate 34, Courtesy of Charles J . Reeder

View along Riverway, Boston and Brookline: Courtesy of the Rustic bridge in the Gill: Courtesy of Herbert Mitchell Illustration Credits , Frederick Law Olmsted National Rustic shelter in the Ramble: Courtesy of Herbert Mitchell Frontispiece, Frederick Law Olmsted: Courtesy of the National Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Playstead Overlook Shelter, Franklin Park, Boston: Courtesy of Site, Brookline, Massachusetts the National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted Na- tional Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts Other Illustration Credits Plan of Prospect Park, 1869: Courtesy of the National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Plan of Cherokee Park, Louisville, 1897: Courtesy of the Nation- The Key Elements of Olmsted Parks Brookline, Massachusetts al Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts View of Ellicottdale: Courtesy of the National Park Service, Transverse Road in Central Park: Courtesy of Herbert Mitchell Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Brookline, Plan of Seneca Park, Rochester, 1893: Courtesy of the National Massachusetts Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Plan of Buffalo Park system: Courtesy of the National Park Site, Brookline, Massachusetts Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Bird’s-Eye View of proposed “gallery” at Belle Isle, Detroit: Brookline, Massachusetts Central Park, “Picturesque” Scenery in the Ramble Courtesy of the National Park Service, Frederick Law Ol- View of Long Meadow, Prospect Park: Courtesy of the National Presentation views of the Ramble area from “Greensward” design msted National Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic competition submittal, 1858: Courtesy of the Museum of the Site, Brookline, Massachusetts City of New York and the New York City Municipal Archives Cover Art: George Loring Brown, “View of Central Park, Waterfall in Ravine, Prospect Park: Courtesy of Herbert Area of pool in the Gill in the Ramble: Courtesy of Herbert 1862”: Courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York Mitchell Mitchell Plan of Cherokee Park, Louisville, Kentucky, 1897

View of Water Terrace, Central Park: Courtesy of Herbert Source of Gill in the Ramble: Courtesy of Herbert Mitchell Mitchell Bottom of the Gill: Courtesy of the Museum of the City of Men’s gymnastic grounds, Charlesbank, Boston: Courtesy of the New York National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National

Source List and Bibliography

301 Advanced Praise for The Supplementary Series Volume II

Time and again, Denver’s park advocates have been helped by the wise people who are part of NAOP’s national network—people experienced in understanding, explain- ing, and fighting for the integrity and preservation of historic landscapes. —Carolyn and Don Etter, Former Co-Managers of Denver’s Park and Recreation Department

Without NAOP we may not have saved our park. Druid Hills linear park is the centerpiece of Frederick Law Olmsted’s design for his last suburb. When the park was threatened by a proposed roadway, NAOP elevated our fight. Here was a national organization giving us recognition. —Sally Harbaugh, Trustee Emerita Olmsted Linear Park Alliance, Atlanta, Georgia

NAOP’s work to protect Washington Park when it was being proposed as the central site for the Olympics was much appreciated in Chicago. It underlined how much the country cares about its Olmsted legacy. —Victoria Post Ranney, Co-developer of Prairie Crossing community, Grayslake, Illinois

An important volume for all landscape architects and urban planners to track and research Olmsted projects in their cities. It’s amazing to see the magnitude of Olmsted’s legacy on the American landscape—quite astonishing! —American Society for Landscape Architects Medal of Excellence Awards Jury