Designing an American Landscape

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals, philosophy, and influence.

Black and white of group of men sitting around tables

Fairsted Employees

A look into those who worked at the first landscape architecture firm in the country, lasting from 1883 to 1979.

Green hills of a pasture

FLO's Walk Across England

Exploring Olmsted's route from his 1850 trip to England, documented in "Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in England"

black and white of snow capped mountains extending for miles

Olmsteds and the NPS

Despite both Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and Jr.'s contributions to the National Park Service, so often their names are forgotten.

Two images of same home, one black and white, one color

Fairsted: Past and Present

Explore Fairsted through historic images, seeing how it has changed in over one hundred years of use.

People looking over drawing on long table.

Explore the Olmsted Archives

Check out our extensive archival collection- including 66,000 photographs and 140,000 plans and drawings.

Last updated: November 9, 2022

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