About U.S. Capitol Grounds

One of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr.’s greatest accomplishments is the U.S. Capitol Grounds in Washington, D.C. The 58-acre park was landscaped by Olmsted in an expansive project that was performed from 1874 to 1892. 

Olmsted wanted his design to complement and highlight the U.S. Capitol Building and created a natural landscape that incorporated open terraces, park-like edging, low walls, lamps, careful placement of trees and shrubs. A comprehensive circulation system, with a series of curved walkways, was planned to offer strategic views of the U.S. Capitol and attract attention to the commanding architecture and beauty of the building.  

Deciduous trees, including Ginkgo’s and American Elms, were heavily used in Olmsted’s design to both frame the building and provide shade for visitors. Today, there are about 890 trees surrounding the immediate U.S. Capitol Building and more than 4,200 trees throughout the grounds. 

The northern part of the grounds offers a shaded walk among trees, flowers and shrubbery that leads to a small, hexagonal brick structure, named the Summerhouse. It was included in Olmsted’s design in response to complaints that visitors to the U.S. Capitol could not find water or a place to rest on their journey. 

More than 140 years later, Olmsted’s harmonious design still drives landscaping decisions on the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Today, this urban oasis in the nation’s capital welcomes visitors from all over the world. 

Learn more in this brochure: The United States Capitol Grounds: Frederick Law Olmsted’s Legacy in the Nation’s Capital