A presentation by Virginia Small
Learn about the remarkably beautiful landscapes designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and his sons for numerous Wisconsin locations. The Olmsted firm’s projects include planning and development of major parks in Milwaukee, master planning and design for the Town of Kohler, and designed landscapes in Lake Geneva. Frederick Law Olmsted is considered the “father of American parks.” He and his two sons were among the most influential landscape architects and urban planners in American history. Their legacies remain relevant and inspiring. This slide-illustrated program showcases their visionary and inclusive approaches and their extant landscapes. It is presented as part of the year-long international celebration of the 200th anniversary of Olmsted’s birth.
Virginia Small is an award-winning journalist and photographer who has researched, written and presented about landscapes for 25 years. The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects honored her in 2019 with its “Visibility Award.” After working as a journalist and communications professional on the East Coast, she returned to her hometown of Milwaukee, where she writes extensively for national and local outlets about cultural and historic landscapes and environmental topics. The author of Great Gardens of the Berkshires, she recently contributed a chapter about Olmsted’s legacies for The Milwaukee River Greenway: A Wealth of Nature in the Heart of the City.
