Movie Matinee: Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America

Movie Matinee: Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America
Thursday, December 18th, 4:00 p.m.

Frederick Law Olmsted helped define landscape architecture as both a profession and an art, partnering early in his career with Calvert Vaux. Widely considered the most influential figure in the field, Olmsted co-designed Central Park, led preservation efforts at Yosemite and Niagara Falls, designed the U.S. Capitol Grounds, planned Boston’s “Emerald Necklace,” and developed park systems across the country. His visionary parkway network in Buffalo—the first integrated system of its kind—is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Believing parks were essential to city life, Olmsted pioneered an early “environmental ethic,” recognizing the importance of public green spaces long before modern conservation movements emerged.

Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America celebrates his lasting legacy through vivid imagery and insightful storytelling, revealing how his designs continue to shape communities and inspire urban planning today.  The film runs approximately 57 minutes, is rated G, free and open to the public, and made possible through Kanopy.