Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals, philosophy, and influence.
Photo: NPS Photo
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker.
- LocationBrookline, MA
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursToday: Closed
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Weather now56°F Patchy rain nearby
- Alerts 3 active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Civil War
- Conservation Movement
- Landscape Design
- Schools and Education
- Social Movements
- Wars and Conflicts
Alerts (3)
Park ClosureParking Lot Closure Due to ongoing construction, the parking lot is closed. Ample street parking can be found along Dudley Street, including… Read more
Due to ongoing construction, the parking lot is closed. Ample street parking can be found along Dudley Street, including the Brookline Reservoir. For accessible parking, please visit our "Contact Us" page for more information.
CautionConstruction
There is ongoing construction due to roofing project. Please practice caution on the grounds and do not enter marked areas.
InformationGrounds Inaccessible to Visitors 10/19, 10/20, and 10/21 Due to restoration work on the landscape, the grounds will be inaccessible to visitors Monday-Wednesday, October 19-Octo… Read more
Due to restoration work on the landscape, the grounds will be inaccessible to visitors Monday-Wednesday, October 19-October 21. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Things to Do
6 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Facilities & Services
Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Centers
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Visitor Center
Visitor Center
Visitor center, bookstore, and self guided exhibits too the right at the front of the house. Design office tours depart from the visitor center. Entrances accessed…
99 Warren Street, Brookline, MA (617) 566-1689 Directions
Details
Visitor center, bookstore, and self guided exhibits too the right at the front of the house. Design office tours depart from the visitor center. Entrances accessed through back parking lot or main house entrance through front vestibule are staff entrances.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Today: Closed · Seasonal Park Hours
Hours details
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Seasonal Park HoursToday: Closed
Hours for the visitor center and house at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site vary by season. The grounds are open year-round, dawn to dusk. In the summer, the site is open Thursday to Sunday. In the spring, the site is open Fridays and Saturdays. During the winter season, the house is closed to the public, with tours available by appointment only.
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 9:30AM - 4:30PM Friday 9:30AM - 4:30PM Saturday 9:30AM - 4:30PM Sunday 9:30AM - 4:30PM
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Address
99 Warren StreetBrookline, MA 02445
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
56°F
Patchy rain nearby · feels like 50°
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Today
61° 53°
Patchy rain nearby78% rain -
Tomorrow
75° 60°
Fog64% rain -
Thursday
60° 52°
Sunny8% rain
Updated 1 hr ago
What to expect by season
Summer: Warm temperatures, average high temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, often with humidity. July and August bring the hottest temperatures. Fall: Cooler temperatures, mean temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes rainy. Peak fall foliage is in mid-October. Winter: Cold, with snow, average low temperature around 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring: Cold to cool temperatures, average mean temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Upcoming Events
3 coming up-
Fall Walks and Talks: "Lungs of the City" - Public Health and Parks
Event page for Fall Walks and Talks: "Lungs of the City" - Public Health and Parks (opens in a new tab)About
Boston is deemed a “public health powerhouse,” as it is one of two cities in the United States where city residents are always approximately a 10-minute walk from a park. Join a ranger while examining the history of the public health movement and how it intersects Frederick Law Olmsted’s landscape architecture career from Central Park all the way to Fairsted.
The tour will start at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse and explore parts of Jamaica Pond and Olmsted Park.
Location: Please meet at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse. -
Fall Walks and Talks: Hardscapes - Architecture and Collaboration in the Olmsted Landscape
Event page for Fall Walks and Talks: Hardscapes - Architecture and Collaboration in the Olmsted Landscape (opens in a new tab)About
Partnership can be a powerful force. Throughout Olmsted’s career his work as a landscape larchitect found partnerships that proved fruitful and harmonious but also difficult and frustrating. But each partnership Olmsted held was as unique as a fingerprint; exhibiting varied power dynamics and design inspirations that would go on to provide each project with its own distinct character. Explore Olmsted's partnerships and influences on a guided walk of the Riverway with a park ranger.
Location: Please meet at the intersection of Longwood Ave. and Chapel St. -
Fall Walks and Talks: Social Clubs, Impressionism, and Olmsted
About
In the nineteenth-century, social clubs were spaces for the upper classes of society to socialize and explore new ideas. The St. Botolph Club was an important figure in the popularization of Impressionism in the United States and hosted one of the first Monet exhibits in the country. Join a ranger while exploring Olmsted's membership and participation in nineteenth-century social venues, much like the St. Botolph Club.
Location: Please meet at the St. Botolph Club.
Photos
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Fairsted's Plant Room was the Olmsted family's favorite room in the house. With the rock walls and large windows to view the South Lawn, it was the perfect mix of interior and exterior. — NPS Photo -
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Getting There
Brookline, MA 02445
Site is located on the southwest corner of Warren and Dudley Streets in Brookline, south of Route 9, near the Brookline Reservoir. Site is 0.7 miles from the Brookline Hills MBTA stop on the Green Line, D Branch.
Mailing address: 99 Warren Street, Brookline, MA 02445
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