• A photo of part of the Hollow and a corner of the house at Fairsted, taken in early Spring 2012

    Frederick Law Olmsted

    National Historic Site Massachusetts

Management

About the Park

Date Authorized: October 23, 1979 (Public Law 96-87)

Superintendent: Myra Harrison
Phone: (617) 566-1689

Mission & Significance of the Park

On October 12, 1979, Congress passed Public Law 96-87 which established the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, "...in order to preserve and interpret for the benefit, inspiration and education of present and future generations, the home and office of Frederick Law Olmsted, the great American landscape architect and designer." This act authorized the purchase of Olmsted's home and office in Brookline, Massachusetts, as well as the purchase of the archival collection stored on the site.

 
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Park Planning

This October will mark thirty years since Congress established Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Olmsted NHS). The NPS is honored to be the steward of the site, where America’s foremost landscape architect, his notable sons John Charles and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and their renowned firm designed thousands of parks, suburban neighborhoods, campuses, and private estates.

We are pleased to inform the public about the renewed strategic planning effort being undertaken at the Olmsted NHS. The site has made enormous progress in thirty years, but “Fairsted,” as Olmsted named it, now faces new challenges. Recently the site received funding to revise and update the park’s General Management Plan. Your perspectives and input are critical to the creation of a renewed vision for the site and an enlightened plan for the future.

 
Charlotte Olmsted w-puppy
Charlotte Olmsted with a puppy in 1914.
Olmsted Archives Collection/NPS

Special Use Permits are required to do certain activities at Frederick Law NHS. Please use the following forms for applying for a Special Use Permit. Contact Alan Banks  at (617) 566-1689 ext. 221 for questions regarding these forms.

General Use Permit

Filming Permit (short form)

Filming Permit (long form)

Did You Know?

Olmsted

Frederick Law Olmsted was also a journalist, publisher, seaman, mine superintendent, dry goods clerk and farmer.