The influence of Frederick Law Olmsted on what became the National Park Service is not a significant theme of earlier biographies, but recent books have addressed this topic in more depth. “The Power of Scenery: Frederick Law Olmsted and the Origin of National Parks” by Dennis Drabelle recounts the origins of national parks, both in this country and internationally.
While the author delightfully brings to life many historical personalities, it is clear that he regards Olmsted as the most influential individual in the social, political, and natural forces that created the earliest parks in the mid to late 19th century.
Excerpted from the Summer 2022 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin