Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Park Closure Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic is Seasonally Closed until May 2027

Frederick Law Olmsted NHS is seasonally closed through late May 2027. Off-season tours (November through late May) are available by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with at least two weeks' advance notice. Tours are subject to staff availability; weekend tours are not available. Please email us for additional information.

Park Closure Parking Lot Closure

Due to ongoing construction, the parking lot is closed. Ample street parking can be found along Dudley Street, including the Brookline Reservoir. For accessible parking, please visit our "Contact Us" page for more information.

Caution Construction

There is ongoing construction due to roofing project. Please practice caution on the grounds and do not enter marked areas.

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.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Seasonal Park Hours: Hours for the visitor center and exhibits as well as the historic design office at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site vary by season. The grounds are open year-round dawn-to-dusk. In the spring and fall, the site is open Fridays and Saturdays. In the summer, the site is open Thursday through Sunday. During the winter off season, the visitor center and exhibits as well as the historic design office are all closed to the public, with tours available by appointment on select weekdays.

Getting there

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.

Visitor centers

  • Visitor Center

Weather

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.

Phone: 6175661689

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Dark wood box with four shallow drawers on large wooden table with blueprint
Drafting Table · NPS Photo
A shaded bench and plants in a sunken garden surrounded by bushes
The Hollow · NPS Photo
Wicker chairs around table in room with rock covered wall with views outside
Plant Room · NPS Photo
Large flat grassy area with one tree in middle, other on sides, next to large house
South Lawn · NPS Photo
Large room with wooden tables and stools
Drafting Department · NPS Photo
Room with wooded drawers along all the walls
Photo Records Room · NPS Photo

Pair it with