Olmstead

Take a second and just try to guess where this picture was taken. Wait for it....
It's part of the Conservatory Grounds on Belle Isle in Detroit. Were you right?
Belle Isle was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead - who arguably pioneered landscape architecture in the United States.

His works include The White House grounds, The US Capitol, Central Park in New York, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, The Emerald Necklace in Boston, The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, UC Berkley, Stanford University and the University of Chicago to name just a few.

I was impressed to also learn that Olmstead designed Presque Isle Park just outside of Marquette, MI. He was not only an amazing landscape artist, but a conversationist who cherished open spaces and the preservation of beauty througout the US. There is an Olmstead Point in Yosemite National Park, paying hommage to Olmstead's efforts preserving the Sierra Nevada region.

The one work of Olmstead's that isn't recognizable to what is once was is from the Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Jackson Park, Chicago, IL. The Palace of Fine Arts building is the last ediface that remains from the fair. The Museum of Science and Industry now calls this building home. There is a Jim Hensen exhibit that is currently running from now until January - and I believe this will get me out of the downtown/Lincoln Park area of Chicago to Jackson Park to finally stand there and try to remember what Olmstead's vision was.

Olmstead's home in Brookline, MA is registered as a National Historic site. It's currently closed for a renovation project and is slated to re-open sometime in 2011. Maybe an eastcoast trip for next summer? Hmm....