Book Review - Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted


Published in 2011, Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin chronicles the life of the one of the early American landscape architects.  In over 400 pages of text, Martin eloquently describes the amazingly brilliant, challenging, and sorrowful life of Olmsted.  Born on April 26, 1822 in Hartford, Connecticut, Olmsted was an avid reader.  He also had a dedicated work ethic and a talented speaker.  Before finding his true life passion as a landscape architect and conservationist, Olmsted worked as a surveyor, clerk, sailor, and farmer. 

Olmsted also worked as a journalist.  He traveled to the American south and wrote articles about slavery and southern life for The New York Daily Times.  Olmsted also wrote books as well: Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in England and A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States.  “Olmsted was quick to concede that slavery was wrong,” Martin writes on page 76.  After writing about slavery for the Times, Olmsted had an active leadership role in the United States Sanitary Commission.

During his career as a landscape architect, environmental advocate, and conservationist he designed more than 30 major city parks.  His most well-known landscape designing contributions include:

1. Stanford University
2. Yosemite National Park (California)
3. Arnold Arboretum (Boston, MA.)
4. Buffalo, New York park system
5. Central Park, New York City
6. Niagara Falls, New York
7. Mount Royal park (Montreal, Quebec)
8. U.S. Capitol Grounds (Washington, D.C.) 

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