Experiencing Olmsted: The Enduring Legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted's North American Landscapes [Hardback]

This celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of the father of American landscape architecture highlights 200 iconic landscapes created by him and his followers, including New York’s Central and Prospect Parks and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. 6,000 first printing. Illustrations.

"The year 2022 will mark the bicentennial of the birth of Olmsted; a national celebration is being planned by several organizations. This book celebrates 200 of the more than 6,000 landscapes that he and his successors created, many of which are extant, kept up, open to the public, and beloved as major cultural sites. Olmsted designed many of America's most beloved parks and landscapes during his remarkable 40-year career, including New York's Central and Prospect Parks; the Biltmore Estate in Asheville,NC; and the US Capitol grounds. His full portfolio spans urban park systems, scenic reservations, national and state parks, planned communities, institutional grounds, and academic campuses. These span 45 states and Canada, and this book celebrates 200 of the most significant with short essays and photos (contemporary as well as archival)"--

The authors, who specialize in landscape architecture, landscape history and preservation, and landscape heritage, describe about 200 projects of the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. (1822-1903) in the 19th and 20th century, illustrating his approach to landscape architecture. Presented alphabetically by state, the projects are from across the US and Canada and include photos, plans, and descriptions of parks, parkways, memorials, the grounds of state capitol buildings, plazas, and gardens. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

2022 is the bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted. In celebration of this, Experiencing Olmsted highlights 200 of the iconic landscapes created by him and his successors, many of which are open to the public and beloved as major cultural sites.



200 Iconic Landscapes That Define North America 

Frederick Law Olmsted is the father of American landscape architecture. His firm, and the successor firms that sprung from it, worked through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to shape some of our most beloved green spaces, including national, state, and city parks, suburban neighborhoods, and academic campuses. He is most famous for creating New York’s Central and Prospect Parks, Stanford University’s campus, and the Capitol Grounds. What is less known and surprising about his legacy is that he worked widely across North America. 

By highlighting 200 iconic landscapes, many of which are still open to the public today, Experiencing Olmsted brings a fresh approach to the firms’ work and philosophy. It highlights not only grand city parks, but also other public venues born out of a desire for social equity. Olmsted was an early voice for parks as democratic spaces that could be reached on foot by a large percentage of any city’s populace. He viewed parks as restorative places—what he termed “the lungs of a city.” Brimming with contemporary and archival photography as well as original drawings and plans, this truly remarkable record brings these places to vivid life. 


200 Iconic Landscapes That Define North America 

Frederick Law Olmsted is often described as the father of American landscape architecture. He, his firm, and the successor firms that sprung from it worked to shape our parks systems, our suburban neighborhoods, and most of our best beloved green spaces. Experiencing Olmsted explores 200 of those spaces, including New York’s Central and Prospect Parks, Stanford University’s campus, the United States Capitol Grounds, Druid Hills in Atlanta, Lake Park in Wisconsin, and many more. Readers will find contemporary and historical photography, original drawings and plans, and descriptions of each space that provide background on Olmsted’s most important contributions. 2022 is the bicentennial of Olmsted’s birth, and there is no better way to celebrate than the pages of this beautifully packaged, thoughtful exploration of the firm’s important legacy on North America’s landscape.