Throughout the mid-19th century, Olmsted and his professional partner Calvert Vaux designed some of the country’s most significant urban landscapes. These included Central Park in New York City, the Emerald Necklace in Boston and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is often called the Father 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.

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