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synopsis

Frederick Law Olmsted first visited Niagara Falls in 1869 and from then on was committed to preserving the natural beauty of Niagara Falls. He worked diligently to reverse the industrialization and commercialization that mass tourism had brought to the site. Following years of advocacy and appeals to the State of New York, Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux prepared a General Plan

Frederick Law Olmsted first visited Niagara Falls in 1869 and from then on was committed to preserving the natural beauty of Niagara Falls. He worked diligently to reverse the industrialization and commercialization that mass tourism had brought to the site. Following years of advocacy and appeals to the State of New York, Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux prepared a General Plan for the Improvement of the State Reservation at Niagara in 1887. The first state park in the United States, the reservation consists of 6 islands and the western stretch of land bordering the Niagara River (plan 00617-1). Recommendations for the treatment of Lune Island, Bird Island, Bath Island, Sister Islands, Brother Island, and Goat Island, the largest of the collection, were developed with the intention of protecting their natural scenery and highlighting views for visitors (Plan 00617-28). Their report discussed the layout of carriage roads, walking and driving routes, and the proposed re-vegetation of Goat Island to provide opportunities for “pensive contemplation of distinctive qualities of beauty… It is in this respect that Niagara deserves to rank among the great treasures of the world.” [O&CV to Dorsheimer_1887-08-_Papers of FLO-v.1-p.536

The Olmsted Brothers also advised on Niagara Falls twenty years later (see jobs 03330 and 05560) with FLO Jr. advising upon the removal of many of the industries which marred the river banks.

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