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
Tuesday, May 19
Patchy rain nearby
High: 91.9°F | Low: 66°F
Humidity: 62%
Wind: 14.8 mph
Rain Chance: 89%
UV Index: 8.5
Sunrise: 05:19 AM
Sunset: 08:03 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (7%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 70.2°F
Cloud Cover: 89%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, May 20
Patchy rain nearby
High: 90.5°F | Low: 64.8°F
Humidity: 61%
Wind: 15.4 mph
Rain Chance: 88%
UV Index: 8.7
Sunrise: 05:19 AM
Sunset: 08:04 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (15%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 68.4°F
Cloud Cover: 88%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Thursday, May 21
Partly Cloudy
High: 63.4°F | Low: 53.1°F
Humidity: 42%
Wind: 11.4 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.5
Sunrise: 05:18 AM
Sunset: 08:05 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (24%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 46.8°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (3)
Heat Advisory issued May 18 at 12:57PM EDT until May 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: May 18, 2026 12:57pm
Expires: May 19, 2026 7:00am
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 96 expected.
* WHERE...Much of Southern New England, except for the eastern
slopes of the Berkshires, the Rhode Island and Massachusetts South
Coast, Cape Cod and the Islands.
* WHEN...From 11 AM Tuesday to 8 PM EDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures, a moderate degree of humidity with
little relief Tuesday night may cause heat illnesses.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This is the first multi-day period of hot
temperatures. Those not yet accustomed to hot temperatures with a
moderate degree of humidity should take appropriate heat-related
precautions.
Air Quality Alert issued May 18 at 12:19PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: May 18, 2026 12:19pm
Expires: May 18, 2026 11:00pm
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued
an Air Quality Alert Day for Ground Level Ozone, from 11 AM to 11 PM
EDT Tuesday.
An Air Quality Alert means that Ground Level Ozone concentrations
within the region are expected to reach unhealthy levels. For
additional information, please visit the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management website at:
https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/air-
resources/air-quality-forecast
Air Quality Alert issued May 18 at 11:18AM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Effective: May 18, 2026 11:18am
Expires: May 18, 2026 11:00pm
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued
an Air Quality Action Day for Ground Level Ozone and Fine
Particulates, from 11 AM to 11 PM EDT Tuesday.
An Air Quality Action day means that Ground Level Ozone and Fine
Particulates concentrations within the region may approach or exceed
unhealthy standards. For additional information, please visit the
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management website at:
https://dem.ri.gov/
Park Alerts
Park Events
Art in the Park
Enjoy a summer day filled with music and art on the South Lawn! The day will include performances by Vanessa Trien and The Jumping Monkeys and Juventas New Music Ensemble. Family-friendly art activites will be available throughout the day. This free event is made possible in partnership with the Friends of Fairsted.
Date: Jul 12, 2026 12:00am to Jul 12, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
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