Last updated: May 24, 2024
Place
Baltimore Fire, 1904
Olmsted Archives, Job #02410, Baltimore, MD
Quick Facts
In 1902, Baltimore, Maryland’s Municipal Art Society joined with the city’s Park Board, to commission Olmsted Brothers to plan a municipal park system for the area. Olmsted Brothers, with Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. taking lead, recommended creating three parkways. Despite enthusiasm from both city leaders and the public, the park system was slow to develop.
Olmsted Jr. was overseeing the plan with colleagues P.R. Jones and Percival Gallagher, all of whom worked with the city’s superintendent of parks. Work continued until 1904 when a fire destroyed much of downtown Baltimore, delaying work for two years. On February 18th of that year, ten days after the fire ended, Olmsted Jr. conducted a five-day study outlining recommendations for the post-fire rebuild.
In addition to physical improvements, Olmsted Jr. also wanted to use this opportunity to work with architects, creating harmonious streetscapes. Most of Olmsted Jr.’s recommendations involved widening the streets. Budget cuts and rapid urban growth would present challenges to the original plan, not all of which were completed.
Source: "Baltimore Plan of 1904," The Cultural Landscape Foundation
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr
Olmsted Jr. was overseeing the plan with colleagues P.R. Jones and Percival Gallagher, all of whom worked with the city’s superintendent of parks. Work continued until 1904 when a fire destroyed much of downtown Baltimore, delaying work for two years. On February 18th of that year, ten days after the fire ended, Olmsted Jr. conducted a five-day study outlining recommendations for the post-fire rebuild.
In addition to physical improvements, Olmsted Jr. also wanted to use this opportunity to work with architects, creating harmonious streetscapes. Most of Olmsted Jr.’s recommendations involved widening the streets. Budget cuts and rapid urban growth would present challenges to the original plan, not all of which were completed.
Source: "Baltimore Plan of 1904," The Cultural Landscape Foundation
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr