Frederick Law Olmsted

The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair was a significant event in the United States’ history. The hassles of preparing the fair and the six months of its presence led to a mixture of cultures, new and improved advancements in technology, and a new respect for America. A very crucial occurrence was arranging ideas from the most profound architects in the United States. A landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, had previously established himself with many of his attractions across America. He was most known for co-designing Central Park in New York. He believed that natural is beautiful, and that subtle detail should unconsciously grab the reader’s attention. Much like most of the nation, Frederick Olmsted was motivated by desire and pride. The Chicago

At the age of four his mother died so most of his schooling came from ministers of outlying towns. In 1837, Olmsted was about to attend Yale college, but sadly suffered from a severe sumac poisoning that prevented him from continuing his studies. Over the next twenty years, Olmsted spent his time working. He found himself working a variety of different jobs such as a clerk, a sailor in China trade, and a farmer. He also studied surveying and engineering, chemistry, and scientific farming. To even further his wide range of skills, Olmsted was an aspiring writer. In 1852, Frederick Olmsted became a reporter for the New York Times. Later that year, besides just writing articles for a newspaper, Olmsted decided to write a book of his own. He said, “to take up and keep a position as a recognized litterateur, a man of influence in literary matters” (http://www.centralpark.com/guide/history/frederick-law-olmsted.html). He published his first book in 1852 called Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in England. While working on a book, a family friend park commissioner Charles Elliott, encouraged Olmsted to apply for the position of superintendent of New York City’s Central Park. To do so each applicant would have to enter a design of the park. Olmsted teamed up with Calvert Vaux and presented their design they called Greensward. It included scenic views, winding paths, and large open areas. Out of thirty three submitted designs Olmsted and Vaux’s design was chosen. In 1857, Frederick Olmsted was named superintendent of Central Park. The success of this project brought many more job opportunities for Olmsted such as the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago,