Fredrick Law Olmsted

Fredrick Law Olmsted greatly enhanced and created the American landscape architecture. Olmsted was well known for his designs in urban parks with his senior partner. His designs and parks are so magnificent and grand that he is known by many sources as the “Father of Landscape Design. “ When a person makes such a name for himself, it is important to look at two major influences. What led to him becoming a landscape architect and what was his philosophy in designing the creations. Once someone gets to this magnificent point however there needs to be recognition of his vast majority of works. Fredrick Law Olmsted was not a artist that seemed to create the same thing numerous times, he was a man that had a different vision for each canvas he worked on.

Fredrick Law Olmsted was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on April 26, 1882. His Father was John Olmstead and his mother was Charlotte Law Olmsted. Even though his mother died when he was four, his dad made great effect on him. John Olmsted was a merchant with a great passion for nature. When Fredrick was about to enter Yale College, he got sumac poisoning which weakened his eye sight; after this he did not attend college. The young man then worked as a seamen, merchant, journalist, and then on a family farm. On June 13, 1859, Fredrick married his brother’s widow. Her name was Mary Cleveland Perkins and when her husband John Hull died in 1857 she had three children. Fredrick then adopted his nephews and had two other surviving children with Mary. His career as a journalist was successful he published multiple works while working for the New York Times. (source)

The New York central park was his first piece of work in collaboration with a mutual friend Calvert Vaux. What happened was Andrew Jackson Downing, a friend and mentor of Olmsted introduced the two men. After dying in a tragic accident aboard a steamboat explosion in the Hudson River the two mutual friends took up the composition together. This was the first design or execution of landscape Olmsted had ever completed. Suffice it to say, the duo was pronounced the winners in 1858 and immediately began work. In the partnership, what Olmsted lacked in experience and knowledge he made up for in his social experience. Their idea of a public park was not average, but eventually succeeded. (source)

From his first involvement in designing and executing the Central Park in New York City, Olmsted furthered his landscape architecture career. When continuing his ideas, his philosophy was to improve American life and provide a place of harmony. This effort was made in a time where immigration was numerous and the cities had multiple cultures not always in agreement. The parks and areas that Olmsted created were in an effort to break down those walls, these were places where any person could walk into and enjoy no matter what the life. With also being the “Father of American Landscape Architecture” he created a style that did not have limitations of race. It was a style that was not favored by certain people. This concept gave a feeling of community. Olmsted thought that his vision was the best way to escape from the urban life. The biggest influence on his work was the natural scenery of America and the system of his native region. As a result of his vision, people are still enjoying his healthy, ”pleasure grounds” (as he would call them). (source) (source)

Fredrick Law Olmsted created major works such as the former U.S. Capitol grounds, the Biltmore Estate grounds, the Columbian Exposition World’s Fair in 1893, as well as Central Park and the Niagara Falls grounds. His works did not single out a specific style; on the Biltmore he enhanced the French physique. However, when designing the Capitol grounds, he used ideas for the ancient times and for Niagara Falls Park nature was the true beauty. Olmstead’s influences vary and are many. (source) (source) (source)

Fredrick Law Olmsted led an interesting life and quite stumbled into his career of being a landscape architect. But I think that he followed the verse Luke 12:48 with his hard work and numerous achievements. Instead of just returning to journalism after central park was created, he continued in something that he found a passion for. As a result of this he changed history through the philosophy and manner in which he painted his canvases.

picture: <http://nicksherman.com/design/olmsted/Olmsted-portrait.jpg>