“Sylvan artist” Frederick Law Olmsted: Comprehensive list of his firm’s works in and around Philly

Frederick Law Olmsted and his eponymous firm were prolific for a century, especially in progressive cities like Philadelphia where parks movements had taken hold.

Olmsted kept meticulous records of correspondence and plans, and although not all projects would end up realized, the scope of contacts demonstrates the firm’s prominence. Some of the files are in fact purely informative, perhaps including documents Olmsted received unsolicited. Many of the works here were also done by Olmsted’s son and step-son, who carried the firm on past his death.

If you have more info about any of these works, please leave it in the comments and we’ll update the post!

Schuykill Arsenal
Sesqui-Centennial at League Island Park
Proposed plan for Washington Square
The Boat House at League Island
Stotesbury Cut Flower Garden
League Island Park
Bertram Estate
Wissahickon Drive
Fairmount Park
Willow Grove Park
J.S. Jenks
  • Willow Grove Park (1901)
    • Job Number 00102
    • No plans available
  • Fairmount Park (1866-1898)
    • Job Number 00121
    • No plans available
  • Fairmount Park Extension (1914-1929)
    • Job Numbers 05942, 02948
    • 8 plans available
  • Wissahickon Drive (1868-1873)
    • Job Number 00126
    • No plans available
  • Mr. Bertram Private Estate
    • Job Number 00186
    • No plans available
  • John T. Windrim Private Estate
    • Job Number 00456
    • No plans available
  • Philadelphia Economic Plants Garden (1897-1899)
    • Job Number 01899
    • 9 plans available
  • Harte-Spalding Private Homestead (1903-1908)
    • Job Number 02623
    • No plans available
  • Philadelphia Park System (1895; 1904-1905)
    • Job Number 02939
  • Kresheim Valley Drive and Estate (1906-1906)
    • Job Number 03152
    • 7 plans available
  • Woodward Community (1906-1907)
    • Job Number 03202
    • 2 plans available
  • John D.McIlhenny Club (1907, 1936-1937)
    • Job Number 03325
    • 2 plans available
  • Walter Horstmann Estate (1908)
    • Job Number 03386
    • No plans available
  • Charles Fearm Estate (1908)
    • Job Number 03420
    • No plans available
  • John Story Jenks Jr. Estate (1908-1914, 1926-1929, 1934)
    • Job number 03479
    • 24 plans available
  • Samuel E. Fairchild Jr. Estate (1909)
    • Job number 03646
    • 2 plans available
  • Philadelphia Cricket Club (1909-1910, 19141915)
    • Job Number 03798
    • No plans available
  • Philadelphia Parks (1909-1916)
    • Job Number 03820
    • No plans available
  • Philadelphia Commission for City Plan
    • Job Number 03821
  • League Island Park (1912-1925, 1968-1974)
    • Job Number 03822
    • 77 plans available
  • Main Line Housing Association (1912)
    • Job Number 03823
    • No plans available
  • Northeast Boulevard (1910-1915, 1920)
    • Job Number 03824
    • No plans available
  • Washington Square (1912-1913)
    • Job Number 03825
    • 6 plans available
  • South Broad Street Boulevard (1910-1915)
    • Job Number 03826
    • 60 plans available
  • Dixville Notch (1911)
    • Job Number 05266
    • 1 plan available
  • J. Wilmer Biddle Estate (1911-1916, 1930)
    • Job Number 05268
    • 40 plans available
  • Herbert L. Clark Estate (1911-1913)
    • Job Number 05272
    • 14 plans available
  • Robert L Montgomery Estate (1911-1912)
    • Job Number 05273
    • 3 plans available
  • University of Pennsylvania (1912-1913)
    • Job Number 05481
    • 3 plans available
  • William Warner Harper Estate (1912-1913, 1929)
    • Job Number 05517
    • 5 plans available
  • Churchman & Molitor Thomas (1912)
    • Job Number 05522
    • No plans available
  • Jay Cooke 3rd Estate (1912-19129)
    • Job Number 05572
    • 51 plans available
  • James M Earle Estate (1910-1916)
    • Job Number 05657
    • 3 plans available
  • Charles M. Lea (1912-1913)
    • Job Number 05785
    • 4 plans available
  • College of Physicians (1913)
    • Job Number 05273
    • 6 plans available
  • Allen Lane Station
    • Job Number 05940
    • No plans available
  • Saint Martin’s Development (1913-1914)
    • Job Number 05941
    • 22 plans available
  • Lincoln Drive (1913-1915)
    • Job Number 05944
    • 8 plans available
  • H. H. Houston Estate (1910-1914)
    • Job Number 05969
    • 13 plans available
  • Samuel J. Houston Estate
    • Job Number 05977
    • No plans available
  • J. S. Clark Estate (1913-1914)
    • Job Number 05990
    • 10 plans available
  • Hampton L. Carson (1914-1916)
    • Job Number 06076
    • 9 plans available
  • E. T. Stotesbury Estate (1915-1917)
    • Job Number 06181
    • 58 plans available
  • Mrs. Isaac Kemble/Phillips Hill (1915)
    • Job Number 06242
    • No plans available
  • Girad College
    • Job Number 06346
    • No plans available
  • Samuel F. Houston (1919-1920)
    • Job Number 06674
    • 14 plans available
  • Pastorius Park/George Woodward (1915-1931)
    • Job Number 06678
    • 20 plans available
  • Pastorius Park Extension (1916-1921)
    • Job Number 06955
    • 14 plans available
  • Philadelphia Main Line Citizens Association (1919-1929)
    • Job Number 06702
    • 14 plans available
  • Philadelphia Sesquicentennial International Exposition (1921-1929)
    • Job Number 07039
    • 13 plans available
  • M. L. Cooke/St. George’s Road (1925-1926)
    • Job Number 07575
    • 5 plans available
  • Horace Trumbauer (1927)
    • Job Number 07842
    • No plans available
  • Bok-Curtis Burial Lot at Laurel Hill (1936)
    • Job Number 09455
    • 5 plans available
  • George Woodward Group Home (1937-1939)
    • Job Number 09561
    • 4 plans available
  • Dawson Job (1950)
    • Job Number 09863
    • No plans available
  • Schuykill Arsenal (1875-1877)
    • Job Number 12126
    • 4 plans available