Last updated: October 31, 2023
Place
The Arnold Arboretum
Olmsted Archives
Quick Facts
Location:
Boston, MA
Significance:
Olmsted Designed Landscape
MANAGED BY:
Established in 1872, this is North America's first public arboretum and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants. A National Historic Landmark, it is owned by the City of Boston and managed by Harvard University under a 1,000 year lease signed in 1882. A unique blend of beloved public landscape and respected research institution, the arboretum's 265 acres of rolling land include meadows, forest, and ponds. Its collection of over 15,000 trees, shrubs, and vines is one of the largest and best documented collections in world.
Boston’s very own 3D scientific textbook, it seemed the Arnold Arboretum was meant to be, with “Rocky hill-sides, partly wooded with numerous great trees, and a hanging-wood of hemlocks of great beauty” gracing the area before Olmsted ever arrived. Though 265 acres is plenty of room, Olmsted was skeptical if the scientific and public purposes of the Arboretum could coexist. “Indeed a park and an arboretum seem to me to be so far unlike in purpose that I do not feel sure that I could combine them satisfactorily”. Less than 150 years into its thousand year-lease, they seem to be coexisting just fine.
Boston’s very own 3D scientific textbook, it seemed the Arnold Arboretum was meant to be, with “Rocky hill-sides, partly wooded with numerous great trees, and a hanging-wood of hemlocks of great beauty” gracing the area before Olmsted ever arrived. Though 265 acres is plenty of room, Olmsted was skeptical if the scientific and public purposes of the Arboretum could coexist. “Indeed a park and an arboretum seem to me to be so far unlike in purpose that I do not feel sure that I could combine them satisfactorily”. Less than 150 years into its thousand year-lease, they seem to be coexisting just fine.