Frederick Law Olmsted
In 1783, the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds commissioned Olmsted, who had co-designed Central Park in New York City, to design the grounds of the Capitol. Olmsted created a park-like plan that complimented the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/59">Capitol building</a>. His plan added marble terraces on the northern, western, and southern sides of the building, and a <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/7">summerhouse </a>for visitors on the side near the Mall. Olmsted's career designing park systems and as an urban planner influenced design plans for the National Mall into the 1900s.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Frederick+Law+Olmsted">Frederick Law Olmsted</a>
Architect of the Capitol. <a href="http://www.aoc.gov/capitol-grounds/frederick-law-olmsted">View original image.</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1860-1889">1860-1889</a>
Summerhouse
<a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/85">Frederick Law Olmsted</a> designed the Summerhouse so that visitors to the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/59">Capitol </a>could sit and rest as they toured the Capitol grounds. It contains intricate brickwork, several windows, wrought iron gates, and seating space for up to 22 people. The Summerhouse is hexagonal in shape. A fountain in the center once offered drinking water, but now is simply decorative. Olmsted originally intended to build a second summerhouse, but Congress objected.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Frederick+Law+Olmsted">Frederick Law Olmsted</a>
Architect of the Capitol. <a href="http://www.aoc.gov/capitol-grounds/summerhouse">View original</a>.
1879 (Built)
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1860-1889">1860-1889</a>