April 26, 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted, social reformer and founder of American landscape architecture.
To celebrate, the National Association for Olmsted Parks— the managing partner of Olmsted 200—our partners and friends are meeting in New York City for a slew of events to celebrate Olmsted’s living legacy of parks for all people.
Most notably, NAOP is hosting a gala dinner on April 25 from 7:00 to 9:30 pm ET at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. This event is sold out, but if you have already secured tickets, please check our event page and registration page for the latest on COVID-19 restrictions, dress code, and more.
Whether you are attending the gala dinner or simply visiting NYC during the week, we encourage you to take advantage of the many other programs intended to #CelebrateOlmsted. All programs are listed on our website calendar, but for your convenience, we have created a document highlighting the numerous events occurring in New York.
Events of note— most free but requiring registration— are:
- A lecture on Olmsted, Lincoln and the Civil War at the New-York Historical Society, featuring historian Harold Holzer and Society President Louise Mirrer here.
- A special pop-up exhibit of the rarely seen original Greensward Plan by FLO and Vaux here. Sponsored by the New York Municipal Archives, spaces are limited for these viewings.
- Tours of Central Park, Prospect Park, Fort Greene Park, Forest Park, Van Courtlandt Park, and Morningside Park
- An Inspired by Olmsted carillon concert at Riverside Church here.
Additionally, we have created this Google map to showcase New York’s various Olmsted landscapes and the event locations. Nearest metro stops are listed for your reference, but we encourage you to use your own wayfinding device for the most reliable transportation information. Please check calendar details for each event’s exact address and location.
For those joining us in NYC— and for those celebrating at home— NAOP and the Olmsted 200 campaign encourage you to follow us on social media @Olmsted200 and use the hashtag #CelebrateOlmsted to share your photos and birthday wishes.
We will continue to update this information as we near the birthday. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at info@olmsted-200.org.
Save the date! We’ll be celebrating Olmsted in Chicago on June 17 and 18. Join us for our Chicago gala, and check out our events calendar for more information on itinerary. Tickets are on sale here.