Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted was born on April 26, 1822 in Hartford, Connecticut. Olmsted was a visionary who foresaw the need for national parks, devised one of America's first regional plans, and designed America's first large suburban community.

Olmsted's design for the U.S. Capitol grounds called for curved walkways and careful plantings to allow calming, unobstructed views of the neoclassical building. With his partner Calvert Vaux, Olmsted designed many college campuses and the plan for New York's Central Park, creating a country atmosphere in the heart of the city.

To learn more about the life and work of Frederick Law Olmsted, the book A Clearing in the Distance by Witold Rybczynski is a must-read.

^{Photo: Central Park in New York City. ArtToday.com}