Olmsted NHS Events

flyer advertising every kid outdoors with various public land agency icons

Every Kid Outdoors (Saturday, October 12, 11 AM - 3 PM)

Join us at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site on Saturday, October 12, from 11 AM to 3 PM for a special event! Fourth graders and their families (including homeschoolers) are invited to pick up their FREE Every Kid Outdoors pass, which provides access to hundreds of National Parks and federal recreational lands until August 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the great outdoors together!

Fourth graders must be present and complete a short activity to receive their pass. Please e-mail marissa_cheifetz@nps.gov with any questions.
 

Be sure to follow us on social media (@olmstednhs) and let us know what programs you would like to see!

You can check out our calendar for events, as well as learn about the amazing events held for the Olmsted Bicentennial.

 
Want to know as soon as programs are announced? Join our email list!
 

RECENT PROGRAMMING

September 28, 2024 9:30AM-12:30PM
Weed Warriors (National Public Lands Day)

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site invites enthusiastic and passionate volunteers to assist us on Saturday, September 28 to celebrate National Public Lands Day! National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer effort for America's public lands.

July 21st, 2024 10AM-4:30PM
3rd Annual Art in the Park at Fairsted


Enjoy a summer day filled with music and art on the South Lawn! The day will include performances by Vaness Trien and The Jumping Monkeys, Juventas New Music Ensemble, and Just Kids. Family-friendly art activites will be available throughout the day, as well as tours of the historic design office at 10 AM and 1 PM. This free event is made possible in partnership with the Friends of Fairsted.

June 21st, 2024 6PM-7:30PM
A Short Walk on a Long Day- The Riverway, Reinventing the Parkway


Join 2023's Beveridge Fellow Loïc Massias for a tour of the Emerald Necklace and the work of the Olmsted firm in the Riverway. As part of Massias’s current research on Frederick Law Olmsted’s park systems and their reception in France, the 2-hour walking tour will explore the innovative vision and design’s processes that led to the creation of the Emerald Necklace. This program will touch on the role of water in the design’s process, structure of the urban fabric, layered circulation, integration of architectural elements, and plant palette.

February 25th, 2024 1PM - 3PM
Volunteer Open House

Come visit with current volunteers, staff, and other prospective volunteers to discover upcoming opportunities, enjoy light refreshments, and tour the site before we open for the season. Opportunities include front-line visitor engagement, developing and presenting tours, supporting education program, and assisting in behind-the-scenes projects! Training will be held in March with anticipated start dates of April/May.

December 10th, 2023 1:00PM-4:00PM
Holiday Open House


In partnership with Friends of Fairsted, join us at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site for our yearly holiday open house. With food and beverages, as well as holiday themed arts and crafts activities, you will be able to wander through the Olmsted historic design office at your own pace, with staff available to answer questions. We hope to see you before we close down for the winter!

November 25th, 2023 12:30PM-1:30PM
Fall Walks and Talks: Parks and Politics- A Learn and Burn of Jamaica Pond


Join us on a tour of Jamaica Pond and its notable neighborhood. Our first 1.5 mile loop will include a discussion of the politics behind the Emerald Necklace and how the neighbors were involved with local politics. Our second loop will be fitness focused- more walking, less talking to warm up on a chilly day. We will be walking around the pond during cold and windy weather! Please be prepared by wearing comfortable shoes and wear multiple layers to be warm.

November 18th, 2023 11AM-12PM
Fall Walks and Talks: Franklin Park- The Jewel of the Emerald Necklace Part 2 The Country Park


Franklin Park is considered one of Frederick Law Olmsted’s finest design achievements and a prime example of his social ideals. Discover Olmsted’s vision for Franklin Park’s Country Park on this two-hour walk through the landscapes of Scarboro Pond, Schoolmaster Hill, and the Country Park meadow. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

November 4th, 2023 12PM-1PM
Fall Walks and Talks: Franklin Park- The Jewel of the Emerald Necklace Part 1 The Ante Park


We will be learning about the Ante Park section of Franklin Park, the jewel of Frederick Law Olmsted's Boston Park System, known as the Emerald Necklace. We will be starting our walk by White Stadium in Franklin Park at 12PM. his walk is not a loop as we will be walking through the Ante Park section of Franklin Park, ending on the opposite side. We will be walking a little over one mile and will go for roughly an hour and a half.

October 21st, 2023 1PM-2PM
Fall Walks and Talks: Brother Artists- Olmsted and Richardson in Malden


Join us for the third part of our series "Brother-Artists" as we explore the Converse Memorial Library in Malden, Massachusetts, and discuss the collaborations of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Henry Hobson Richardson, who a mutual friend referred to as 'brother-artists." The Converse Memorial Library was constructed between 1883 and 1885 and was the last Richardson-Olmsted library project.

October 7th, 2023 10AM-12PM
Fall Walks and Talks: The Fells and the First Metropolitan Park System


Join us to discuss the reasons why the Middlesex Fells Reservation was created and the Olmsted Firm’s involvement in designing and implementing the Boston Metropolitan Park System. Join us at 10:00 on Saturday, October 7th to explore the Fells through a lens of history and design. The program will consist of a 3 mile moderately paced hike over fairly rugged terrain.

Sundays in July and September 2023, 10AM-4PM
Olmsted Summer Sundays at the Shattuck


Drop by and visit us at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy's Shattuck Visitor Center. Learn more about Olmsted's Boston park design, chat with a park ranger, and participate in our rotating activities.

In partnership with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

September 9th, 2023 6:45PM-9PM
Summer Movie Night


Enjoy our annual Movie on the South Lawn ! Grab a blanket or beach chair and pick a spot to watch Richie Rich with us. Take in Olmsted's incredible landscape design for the Biltmore Estate.

Lawn open for seating at 6:30 PM. Lot and street parking available. Food and family-friendly beverages are welcome (no glass)

July 23rd, 2023 10AM- 4PM
Art in the Park at Fairsted

Come enjoy a nice summer day on the South Lawn filled with music and activities! The day will include preformances by Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys at 11AM, and Juventas New Music Ensemble at 2PM. Family-friendly activities will be available throughout the day including a watercolor station, button-making, and sun priting.
Proudly supported and in partnership with Friends of Fairsted.

 

Last updated: October 11, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

99 Warren Street
Brookline, MA 02445

Phone:

617 566-1689

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