Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
Designation: National Historic Site
Location: Massachusetts
📘 Park Overview
Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals, philosophy, and influence.
🌤 Weather Information
Summer: Warm temperatures, average high temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, often with humidity. July and August bring the hottest temperatures. Fall: Cooler temperatures, mean temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes rainy. Peak fall foliage is in mid-October. Winter: Cold, with snow, average low temperature around 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring: Cold to cool temperatures, average mean temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
🚗 Directions
Site is located on the southwest corner of Warren and Dudley Streets in Brookline, south of Route 9, near the Brookline Reservoir. Site is 0.7 miles from the Brookline Hills MBTA stop on the Green Line, D Branch.
Images
Fairsted, the home and office of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site.
Credit: NPS Photo
A box of colored pencils and a draftsmen's handbook sit on a table in the drafting room. These materials reflect the period during which Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. was the senior partner in the Brookline, MA landscape architecture firm.
Credit: NPS Photo
Landscape Architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the Hollow on his Brookline, MA property to be a peaceful, picturesque sunken garden.
Credit: NPS Photo
Fairsted's Plant Room was the Olmsted family's favorite room in the house. With the rock walls and large windows to view the South Lawn, it was the perfect mix of interior and exterior.
Credit: NPS Photo
Fairsted's South Lawn served as an apple orchard for the previous owners, but the Olmsted's turned it into a sprawling open lawn where they hosted gatherings.
Credit: NPS Photo
The Vault at Fairsted houses over one million pieces of paper, dating from Frederick Law Olmsted Sr.'s time to 1979, when the firm closed.
Credit: NPS Photo
The Drafting Department housed the most office employees, with drafting being a crucial stage in a landscape design project.
Credit: NPS Photo
In nearly one hundred years of active practice, the Olmsted office would produce sixty thousand images, all stored in wooden boxes along the walls
Credit: NPS Photo
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Sunday, Feb 8
Sunny
High: 14.4°F | Low: -1.7°F
Humidity: 61%
Wind: 13.4 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.4
Sunrise: 06:50 AM
Sunset: 05:08 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (64%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: -2°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Monday, Feb 9
Sunny
High: 22.3°F | Low: -0.4°F
Humidity: 63%
Wind: 11.6 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.4
Sunrise: 06:48 AM
Sunset: 05:09 PM
Moon: Last Quarter (55%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 3.3°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Tuesday, Feb 10
Moderate or heavy snow showers
High: 30.2°F | Low: 11.8°F
Humidity: 66%
Wind: 11.6 mph
Rain Chance: 72%
UV Index: 0.4
Sunrise: 06:47 AM
Sunset: 05:11 PM
Moon: Waning Crescent (46%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 14°F
Cloud Cover: 72%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (4)
Cold Weather Advisory issued February 8 at 1:13AM EST until February 8 at 1:00PM EST by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: Feb 8, 2026 1:13am
Expires: Feb 8, 2026 1:00pm
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 17 below.
* WHERE...Portions of eastern, northeastern, and southeastern
Massachusetts and northern and southern Rhode Island.
* WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon.
* IMPACTS...The cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could
result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.
Cold Weather Advisory issued February 8 at 12:42PM EST until February 9 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: Feb 8, 2026 12:42pm
Expires: Feb 9, 2026 3:45am
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 15 below expected.
* WHERE...Northern Middlesex MA County.
* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...The cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could
result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Extreme Cold Warning issued February 8 at 1:13AM EST until February 8 at 1:00PM EST by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: Feb 8, 2026 1:13am
Expires: Feb 8, 2026 1:00pm
* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below.
* WHERE...Portions of northern Connecticut and central and western
Massachusetts.
* WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon.
* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero
could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
Cold Weather Advisory issued February 8 at 12:42PM EST until February 9 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: Feb 8, 2026 12:42pm
Expires: Feb 9, 2026 3:45am
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 15 below expected with 20
below possible in the highest elevations.
* WHERE...Portions of northern Connecticut and central and western
Massachusetts.
* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero
could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not
taken.
Park Alerts
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
99 Warren Street
Brookline, MA 02445
🏤 Mailing Address:
99 Warren Street
Brookline, MA 02445
📞 Voice Phone: 6175661689
✉️ Email: frla_interpretation@nps.gov