Olmsted in Connecticut Landscape Documentation Project 

Olmsted in Connecticut — a new national model for surveying historic landscapes.

In partnership with Preservation Connecticut, and the State of Connecticut’s State Historic Preservation Office, Red Bridge Group led the documentation of nearly 300 landscapes designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. and the Olmsted firm to coincide with the 200th anniversary celebrations coordinated by the National Association of Olmsted Parks. 

Research and field work provided the foundation for the development of a context statement and key themes in the development of the Connecticut landscape as influenced by the Olmsteds. Themes included land conservation, access to open space, social equity, recreation, landscape management and education.

Red Bridge assembled a team of experts, including Liz Sargent Historic Landscape Architecture, Lucy Lawliss, and Cultural Heritage Works, to develop the statewide historic context that directly addresses Connecticut’s contributions to Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., the Olmsted firm, and the development of landscape architecture. Additional deliverables included approximately 150 reconnaissance level field surveys, GIS mapping, and recommendations for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information: www.olmsted200.org/tracking-the-olmsted-heritage-in-connecticut