Last updated: June 20, 2024
Place
King-Glover Lands
Olmsted Archives
Quick Facts
Location:
Newport, RI
Significance:
Olmsted Designed Suburban Community
Three families, the Bradley’s, Glover’s, and King’s, all of Newport Rhode Island decided in the 1880s to combine their lands to create a residential subdivision. In 1884, they hired John Charles and Frederick Law Olmsted to draw up plans for the community. The three families showed a strong willingness to enter into an agreement that would unite their lands for the foreseeable future.
F.L. & J.C. Olmsted proposed connecting the three properties through a series of curvilinear roads and drives. Always with an eye towards the future, the road system was designed to be able to add several additional residences, built alongside a rocky route. Noting the uneven terrain of the land, the Olmsted’s envisioned that ““residences will be obtained with a most interesting and agreeable character, having great natural and permanent advantages over those of the older villa districts of Newport for the environment of sea breezes and of ocean harbor scenery.”
Source: "King-Glover Lands," Olmsted Online
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr
F.L. & J.C. Olmsted proposed connecting the three properties through a series of curvilinear roads and drives. Always with an eye towards the future, the road system was designed to be able to add several additional residences, built alongside a rocky route. Noting the uneven terrain of the land, the Olmsted’s envisioned that ““residences will be obtained with a most interesting and agreeable character, having great natural and permanent advantages over those of the older villa districts of Newport for the environment of sea breezes and of ocean harbor scenery.”
Source: "King-Glover Lands," Olmsted Online
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr