Im delighted to move us to our second panel the Conservation Movement in state and National Parks and we are lucky to have lauren meyer or historian and Landscape Architectsts serving s moderator to kick off this event. Lauren has a longstanding relationship with the olmstead having edited the list of Design Projects which were just mentioned as well as part of the near 12 volume thousands and thousands of pages. He is currently the cochair of the nonprofit partner of National Historic sites and with that welcome lauren. Thank you enough i can figure out the technology here i will pull up the next i might need someone. [inaudible conversations] there it is. Right in the middle. Welcome everyone to session to. Im going to kick off this panel covering sort of a flyover of the role of the olmstead and the National Park service. Followed by scholar and historian Hope Christian who looked into the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, jr. And ending with sam hodder who will talk about the important historic and current work saving the redwoods in california. We are going to do this panel boom, boom, boom. In order to create the most impossible for questions from all of you. During olmstead 200 we celebrate the bicentennial of Frederick Law Olmsted, jr. So ill begin with three areas in which 19th century precedent by olmstead contributed to the development of the National Park service. Some of these you have of course heard before. First we are previously about frederick laws olmstead reservation such as niagara and yosemite feeling it was an important responsibility ofer government to create parks for people in the healing power of natural scenery. Care to other areas of the olmstead for the olmstead firm influence the National Park service and is the first fullscale office of Landscape Architecture at the olmstead firm that developed space design process. Integrated Landscape Architecture and preservation into a single project that transformed a given place into a park. Their approach from the basis for conserving large areas with carefully designed public access. This n was emulated and expanded by the National Park service inc the 20th century in the development of park planning for through the creation of general plans as well as more detailed study for individual park ability. Third olmsteads collaboration with architects h. H. Riverton resulted in part parks that were enhanced with architectural features inspired by their natural settings. And utilizing local materials. The connection between the olmstead firm design aesthetic and the rustic architecture of the National Park service has been wellcumented by many including Linda McclellanLaura Harrison but the National Park service brought the design to new heights sometimes called architecture giving the early National Park a distinctive architectural feel and character. If it Frederick Law Olmsted, jr. Was one of the founding members of the society of Landscape Architecture and Charles Olmsted served as first president. In 1915 they formed a Committee Committee on National Parks and National Forests and in 1916 devoted their annual meeting to the discussionna of national pas articlesst presented by olmsted jr. Lauren Manning James sturgis and Henry Hubbard all called for an organized systematic approach to creating National Parks, the fundamental goal of preserving natural scenery in using the art of Landscape Architecture to successfully design new parks. Olmsted also wrote about the importance of the distinction between National Parks and National Forests and im referring to olmsted jr. At that time there were already approximately 14 National Parks and 28 National Monument but their administration was fractured as we heard earlier from departments of interior, water and agriculture. And i forgot to mention following the meeting olmsted worked collaboratively with several legislators and park advocates to draft legislation that would create National Park service. Olmsteds contribution to the act the legislation that created the National Park but that we know today is its statement of purpose. The olmsted firm was involved in National Parks in many ways which included external and internal advocacy and when i say external and mean working among outside of the National Park service through organizations and congress to advocate and protect existing parks as well as advocating for new ones. Olmsted jr. Was embroiled on the controversy even before the organic act and Elizabeth Cushing can talk more aboutt that. City officials increased their efforts to expand these Water Supplies in the valley in the northwest part of the asem at a National Park is the best option. Olmsted was called uponll by may to help fight the proposal. From 1910 to 1915 he wrote letters to members of congress to enjoy with Many National leaders on the project. The most eloquent on this objection was a lengthy editorial with the transcript noting the damage to the scenery the valley a lack of definitive need for the project and the potential precedent it would create regarding private interests and public lands. Regardless the bill passed both houses in the senate and the project advanced. If Frederick Law Olmsted, jr. Role in the asa committees led to consultation with National ParkService Officials regarding the potential of the everglades is the new National Park. Earnest a Landscape Architect have been promoting the idea at the time when florida was undergoing a surge in population plan speculation. Legislation to investigate the everglades passed in 1929. Olmsted was simultaneously engaged in an adversarial dialogue with sterling yard of the National Park association who feltat National Parks should be based solely on profound natural scenery olmsted argued for a broader interpretation including a wide range ofpe landscape types and ecosystems and habitats including the everglades unique tropical ecosystem. He agreed to lead a special committee of the National Park association and in january 1932 olmsted and others embarked on an extensive trip by automobile motor cruiser small boat on foot and by the lamp and airplane to examine [laughter] in the photos are fabulous by the way. To examine hundreds of miles of the everglades. The outcome was a written resolution of the National Parko association by olmsted and the president William Wharton that conveyed the organization strong support and which have a critical impact on the passage of legislation to create the park. Olmsted jr. Prepared many planningng reports of the natiol park Service Related to the Current Conditions with recommendations for future actions. In 1929 he traveled to the territory of hawaii where where he made a detailed report on various issues related to Design Planning with a focus on the section of the island of hawaii part of what was then called the National Park established in 1915. Olmsted reported on the d challenges use and Park Development in the fragile setting is a significant cultural and Natural Resources and abdicated through preservation of species and their use in the planting process. He addressed the management of the park boundary recommending Design Review or areas visible from the park. He wrote extensively on the appropriate design of park facilities in order to preserve the essential quality of the park and for the creation of general plans for the resulting reportin is a thoughtful and thorough evaluation of park planning and design with the sensitive visual, cultural and ecological setting. The first and largest project undertaken by Frederick Olmsted jr. And his role has National Park service collaborator in official positions have he held from 1941 to 1950 is the Colorado River basin recreational projects. This project him at a time when the National Park service needed a representative to work cooperatively and collaboratively with other federal agencies around the complex issues of water rights, dam construction waterbased recreation and scenic preservation in the arid southwest. I think its very interesting to think that this project 30 years after the hetch hetchy controversy. Water was needed. Olmsted clearly wass so committd to the National Parks is a great outside entity to help facilitate the National Park service in this work. In his first set of assignments olmsted covered 3500 miles in 1941, resulting in a list of potential recreation sites from Steamboat Springs to the dinosaur National Monument and working and working continually through 1942 in 1943 covering a vast geographic area. He continued to consult on matters of water and recreation on the Colorado River and as latete as 1951 is asked to devep pros and cons related to the inclusion of the echo park and Split Mountain dam National Monument. In 1926 Stephen Mather asked olmsted jr. For assistance in evaluating the area inin the vicinity of the hotel in grand Canyon Village of the south rim. Daniel hall had taken over the design of the village and the National Park service remained concerned about the potential expansion of the hotel which was operated by concessionaire. Ol homesteads role was to assess if and how the hotel could expand without a detrimental effect on the park and its facilities. His primary concern was preservation and the arrival for visitors and also preserving the error placeable character of the canyon. He recommended separating a rival from internal circulations and the establishment of corridors keeping new development away and creating a flow conditions that would facilitate recovery of the landscape through read vegetation. Picking up on something that was talked about the grand canyon is one of the few parks, National Parks were olmsted jr. Was involved in land issues related to Indigenous Peoples when a asked the federal government to provide more suitable grazing land. What is interesting to notice that olmsted provided input because he was asked to solely based on the preservation of the park scenery but not on the merits of the proposal. The olmsted firm had the longest relationship with yosemite. Olmsted jr. Began officially inviting the National Park service as early as the 1920s related to conflicts in overcrowding in Yosemite Valley and i in 1928 he stepped in as e first chair of the committee of itexpert advisers a position he held intermittently through 1953. The committee which applied guidance and abroad plan for you somebody to ensure any preservation in with the National Parks under considered Part Development and increasing public use. Also gain the park service the opportunity to address outside criticism by selectingmm a committee of his critics couldor support. He served with duncan mcguffey on the california state park system and a geologist from caltech. The committee studied several locations of the park and advice on topics from recreation activities to public sanitation, too proposed cable way from the valley floor up to Glacier Point in blue of costly Road Construction which of course we know he opposed. This work was most often committed to the National Park service in the form of letters and reports. It did sometimes require solving sitespecific signsor for which olmsted jr. Took turns to confirm and felt as in the case of the parking area at this point. The proposed development of a new village in Yosemite Valley with respect to what public uses were appropriate where to locate new trails and how the vehicular circulation and placement of New Buildings would occur. The board also advised on road alignment to minimize scarring of the steep slopes and rock cliffs that would diminish the park scenic value often involving the development of design options. The olmsted firms work on the island and im just talking abouteg acadia began with bar island in 1908 but it was the work on the motor road that left the greatest imprint on the National Parks. In 1926 daniel hall and thomas dent visited the roadwork rockefeller jr. Was doing at his private estate on the island and this led to rockefellers patronage of the motor road. Rockefeller contacted the Olmsted Office in 1929 regarding the opportunity and over the next six years the olmsted completed design plans focus primarily on the motor road. Rockefeller hoped this would ensure protection of the serene Natural Beauty of the island with the olmsted brothers also served as a neutral party, to mediate differencess of opinion with george story the parks first superintendent per. Perhaps you see a little scene here. And in 1937 the National ParkService Director road to olmsted jr. Regarding design of a memorial for rockefeller at the newly established mountain National Park. Rs of course this was also funded by Frederick Law Olmsted, jr. The newfound gap site was selected and the new design created stone terraces built into the hillside that would provide outstanding gaps. Construction the memorial began in 1939 with local labor and local stone and served as settings for the dedication of the park by fdr in 1940. The National Park service also consulted with the olmsted firm regarding the pier of public roads plan for road in consulted Landscape Architects to assist with the design and in 19151 of olmsted jr. s last projects at the National Park was the development of and policy on wilderness values and National Parks that was necessitated by public concern regarding the preservation of the south appalachian and smoky mountains. As you heard earlier the Olmsted Brothers Firm made a significant contribution to the public landscape of the National Capitol now managed by the park service. In 1901 and olmsted jr. Was appointed to the macmillan also notice the senate park commission. In 1910 u. S. Commission on fine arts andl in 1926 the National Capitol planning commission. The firm undertook Design Projects in the vicinity of the mall, the parks the Washington Monument the Jefferson Memorial white house grounds and roosevelt island. While olmsted jr. Served on the Fine Arts Commission between 1910 and 1918 the firm carefully avoided Design Projects under their jurisdiction but he did often provide