Last updated: June 18, 2024
Place
W.W. Powell Estate
Olmsted Archives
Quick Facts
Location:
Spokane, WA
Significance:
Olmsted Designed Estate
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
The Powell Estate in Spokane was one of the last projects Olmsted Brothers designed in Washington, with James Frederick Dawson playing a leading role in the siting and architectural design of the house, as well as the landscape integration and orientation.
In the pits of the Great Depression, Dawson wrote on November 12th, 1934, that “we won’t get much out of it but then it might help out a little.” Surprisingly, the project became one of Olmsted Brothers most extensive residential designs in the Pacific Northwest. Olmsted Brothers provided advice on the house’s siting, floorplan, and exterior appearance, before the architect began developing plans.
Plantings at the estate were rich and varied, with flowering, fruit, shade, and evergreen trees, as well as native pines, evergreens and flowering shrubs. While Dawson was a skilled planter, he spoke to Spokane Park Superintendent John Duncan for advice on which species were best adapted to grow in local conditions.
Source: "W.W. Powell," Olmsted Online
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr
In the pits of the Great Depression, Dawson wrote on November 12th, 1934, that “we won’t get much out of it but then it might help out a little.” Surprisingly, the project became one of Olmsted Brothers most extensive residential designs in the Pacific Northwest. Olmsted Brothers provided advice on the house’s siting, floorplan, and exterior appearance, before the architect began developing plans.
Plantings at the estate were rich and varied, with flowering, fruit, shade, and evergreen trees, as well as native pines, evergreens and flowering shrubs. While Dawson was a skilled planter, he spoke to Spokane Park Superintendent John Duncan for advice on which species were best adapted to grow in local conditions.
Source: "W.W. Powell," Olmsted Online
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr