Our National Capitol Grounds: The Preservation of an ... · PDF fileinstructive study in...

of 5

Our National Capitol Grounds: The Preservation of an Olmsted Legacy Friday, September 10, 2010, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

PRESENTERS

- Matthew Evans, Senior Landscape Architect and Horticulturist of the U.S. Capitol, Office of the

Architect of the Capitol, [email protected], www.aoc.gov

- Charles E. Beveridge, Series Editor of the Papers of Frederick Law Olmsted,

[email protected], www.olmstedpapers.org

- Ted Bechtol, Superintendent of Capitol Grounds, Office of the Architect of the Capitol,

[email protected], www.aoc.gov

- Iris Gestram, Executive Director, National Association for Olmsted Parks, [email protected],

www.olmsted.org

INTRODUCTION

The grounds of the U. S. Capitol are one of the nation's most iconic places. Designed by Frederick Law

Olmsted beginning in 1874, they provided a setting for the recently expanded Capitol that represented

both the survival of the Union and the American Republic itself.

In explaining his design, Olmsted emphasized the importance the Capitol has as "betokening and as

tending to form and train the taste of the Nation." His plan provided a circulation system for efficient

access to the building while arranging the walks, drives and plantings to heighten the monumentality

and dignity of the Capitol. Further, Olmsted intended for the grounds to serve as a nationally influential

example of the art of landscape architecture. How he achieved his various purposes is a richly

instructive study in landscape design.

The Capitol grounds continue to have a significant symbolic and aesthetic function for the country. This

session considers the history of the grounds, reaching back to the early days of the Republic, the

creation and stewardship of the Olmsted plan during the past 135 years, current maintenance issues,

and plans for future interpretation and maintenance of the grounds.

Participants will experience the access to and presentation of the Capitol building according to

Olmsted's intentions, as well as treatment of the grounds that both realized and ran counter to his

conception. They will examine the remarkable architectural elements and decorative features designed

by Olmsted's chosen architect, Thomas Wisedell, and the massive West Front terrace Olmsted planned

as an appropriate base for the new House and Senate wings and great new dome. They will come to

understand the ingenious variety of ways in which Olmsted subordinated the landscape to the function

and presentation of the building.

of 5


SESSION OUTLINE

I. Introduction – I. Gestram, C. Beveridge

The Olmsted legacy in the District of Columbia

II. Early History of the Capitol Grounds Prior to 1874 - M. Evans

Size and arrangement

Relation to Mall and city

Expansion of grounds and Capitol in 1850s and 1860s

III. The Olmsted Plan - C. Beveridge

Overall considerations; relation to the Mall and city

Design and construction of the East Front grounds

Circulation

Masking and presenting views

The East plaza

West front circulation system

The Summerhouse

The West Front terrace

Olmsted’s role in 1880s and 1890s

IV. The Role of Olmsted Firm c. 1900 - C. Beveridge

V. Treatment of the Grounds c. 1904 to present - M. Evans

VI. Current Issues and Future Plans - T. Bechtol

Maintenance of the Olmsted designed landscape and grounds improvements

Historic Structures Reports, Cultural Landscape Report

Tree maintenance and management programs

Landscape sustainability and the impact of special events.

Landscape interpretation for visitors.

VII. Field Session – C. Beveridge, T. Bechtol, M. Evans, I. Gestram

Stop 1 Garfield Monument Circle

Treatment of the grounds prior to 1874, and changes in the grounds Olmsted had to address. At

Maryland Avenue entrance: consider architectural treatment of walls, entrances and lights as

conceived by Olmsted and detailed by Wisedell. Discuss walls, walk and trees along Maryland

Avenue extended.

Stop 2 SW diagonal view of the Capitol

Learn the reason for Olmsted’s replacement of earth berms and for two-tiered terraces.

Consider the issue of extension of the center of the Capitol West Front, and the significance of

of 5

diagonal views in Olmsted's plan. Consider present problem of overgrown plantings, and the

current historic tree program. Examine overall circulation plan of grounds.

Stop 3 At base of terrace, explain Olmsted's concept for the West Front terrace, changes of

bottom area of terrace in his planning, the provision of fountains, and planting treatment along

the terrace wall.

Stop 4 SE diagonal view of Capitol and terraces from wrought-iron viewing arbor. Consider

Olmsted's concept of arbor planting and the triangle in front. Reason for avoidance of

decorative plantings in this area.

Stop 5 East Plaza: examine the simplicity of the original design and purpose, the role of

bluestone seats, light stands, colored pavement and fountains. Relation of Plaza to ellipses of

turf and shade trees between Plaza and eastern boundary of the grounds. Discuss past and

present preservation and restoration programs in the area.

Stop 6 Diagonal vista of West Front from the NW. Replanting of trees following 1904 plans in

tunnel area to new visitor center. Taft Carillon. Senate-side parks planned by Olmsted Jr. and

others between Constitution Avenue and Union Station.

Stop 7 The Summerhouse—an ingenious and imaginative combination of many elements to

create a unique space for rest and relaxation of visitors on the west grounds. Discuss choice of

plant materials, and current rehabilitation program.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

- Allen, William C. History of the United States Capitol: A Chronicle of Design, Construction, and

Politics. District of Columbia: US Government Printing Office, 2001.

- Beveridge, Charles E., et al. Parks, Politics, and Patronage 1874-1882, The Papers of Frederick

Law Olmsted Volume VII. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.

- Beveridge, Charles E., and Paul Rocheleau. Frederick Law Olmsted, Designing the American

Landscape. New York: Rizzoli, 1998.

- Lawliss, Lucy, et al. The Master List of Design Projects of the Olmsted Firm 1857-1979. District

of Columbia: NAOP and National Park Service, 2008.

- Wood Roper, Laura. FLO—A Biography of Frederick Law Olmsted. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins

University Press, 1973.

Websites:

- The Architect of the Capitol website: www.aoc.gov

- National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP): www.olmsted.org, www.uscapitolgrounds.org

- The Papers of Frederick Law Olmsted Project: www.olmstedpapers.org

of 5


Session Presenters

Theodore R. Bechtol, Jr (Ted) is Superintendent of Capitol Grounds in the Office of the Architect of the

Capitol. He joined the AOC in 2005 as Deputy Superintendent and in 2007 was selected to be

Superintendent. He is responsible for the landscape maintenance of nearly 275 acres of the Capitol

Complex. The Capitol Grounds Division has about 65 employees and supports a wide variety of special

events held on the grounds throughout the year. Prior to his current position he was the horticultural

manager at the Soldiers Home in Washington, DC, and through the years held several similar landscape

management positions with the National Park Service and private foundations. With degrees in

ornamental horticulture and environmental resource management he has focused his professional

interest on historic trees, historic landscape maintenance, integrated pest management and allied

environmental issues. He also represents the Architect on the board of the Historic Congressional

Cemetery.

Charles E. Beveridge is Series Editor of the Papers of Frederick Law Olmsted, published by Johns Hopkins

University Press. He has lectured and published widely on Olmsted and his career and has served as

historical consultant for some forty projects for the preservation and restoration of Olmsted landscapes.

He is the author of Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing the American Landscape, published by Rizzoli

International Publishers in 1995. Dr. Beveridge is an honorary member of the American Society of

Landscape Architects and in 2005 received the ASLA Olmsted Medal for Environmental Stewardship. He

is also the recipient of the Garden Club of America's medal for historic preservation and the Olmsted

Award of Historic Massachusetts, Inc. He is a founding trustee of the National Association for Olmsted

Parks (NAOP) and a member of the NAOP Leadership Council.

Matthew Evans, FASLA, is the Senior Landscape Architect and Horticulturist of the United States Capitol.

His career spans nearly four decades: In his early years, his private sector work included 2,000 built

projects over a 20 year period. Over the past two decades, he has worked in the public sector as a

senior manager and special assistant to the Architect of the Capitol. Matthew has written one book and

has served as a keynote speaker to national audiences. He has appeared on NPR and HG-TV, and

gardens of his design have appeared in a feature-length movie. Currently, he is writing his second book,

Our Capitol Grounds: A Reverent Story.

Iris Gestram is the Executive Director of the National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP). Prior to

joining NAOP, Iris headed the Education and Visitor Services Department at historic Longwood Gardens,

in Kennett Square, PA, and was Director of Education and Visitor Services at Olmsted-designed Bok

Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL. Iris holds a M.S. in Public Horticulture Administration from the

Longwood Graduate Program, and a M.S. in Plant Science from Germany.

of 5

Frederick Law Olmsted’s 1874 plan for the U.S. Capitol Grounds

(image courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol)

Our National Capitol Grounds: The Preservation of an ... · PDF fileinstructive study in...

Documents

Transcript of Our National Capitol Grounds: The Preservation of an ... · PDF fileinstructive study in...