Frederick Law Olmsted spent a handful of years as a Staten Island farmer. But that’s merely one chapter in the life of a man who was, among other things, a journalist, abolitionist, and pioneering landscape architect. Olmsted followed his own idiosyncratic path to greatness. During the talk Martin will connect the disparate pieces of Olmsted’s life, showing how his Staten Island interlude (1848-1855) was crucial to his assorted endeavors, most particularly his masterpiece, Central Park.

Bio:

Justin Martin’s specialty is American history, meticulously researched, but delivered in a narrative style that’s akin to fiction. He’s the author of five critically acclaimed books including Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted. His other titles have covered topics ranging from America’s first Bohemian artists to Antietam, a pivotal Civil War battle. Martin’s articles have appeared in publications across the country including the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Lawrence (KS) Journal World. Martin is a 1987 graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas. He lives with his wife and twin sons in Forest Hills Gardens, a landmark NYC neighborhood designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr..

Event hosted by Friends of Olmstead-Beil House