The Olmsted Legacy in Chicago

In 2022 we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Frederick Law Olmsted’s birth. Join historian Julia Bachrach as she illuminates Olmsted’s significant contributions to Chicago’s South Side parks. This free program is part of Open House Chicago 2021.

Throughout the mid-19th century, Olmsted designed some of the country’s most significant urban landscapes. These included Central Park in New York City, the Emerald Necklace in Boston and the campus at Stanford University.

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is often considered the founder of Landscape Architecture. Widely regarded as the nation’s pre-eminent creator of parks, Olmsted and his sons, known professionally as the Olmsted Brothers, had important ties with Chicago that have often been overlooked. This presentation will explore Olmsted's lasting presence in Chicago.

This program is offered in conjunction with the Chicago Public Library and their current exhibit, From Swamps to Parks: Building Chicago’s Public Spaces at the Harold Washington Library in the 9th floor Exhibit Hall.