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.
Page 1 of 5
Our National Capitol Grounds: The Preservation of an Olmsted Legacy
Friday, September 10, 2010, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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
Page 2 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
Page 3 of 5
Our National Capitol Grounds: The Preservation of an Olmsted Legacy
Friday, September 10, 2010, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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.
Page 4 of 5
Frederick Law Olmsted’s 1874 plan for the U.S. Capitol Grounds
(image courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol)
Page 5 of 5