[Cross-Posting; apologies for any duplication]
Beginning as early as March 2005, the Frederick Law Olmsted National
Historic Site in Brookline, Massachusetts will undertake a major
construction program to address serious and longstanding infrastructure and
drainage issues. This comprehensive project includes the installing of fire
protection throughout our buildings and a water mist system in the plans
vault; improving the museum environment (heating/cooling/humidity) for
visitors and collections; correcting site drainage problems; inserting
structural reinforcements as needed; and repairing and rehabilitating the
historic barn for public and education program use.
In order to prepare for and accommodate construction, we will need to
adjust our current schedule of operations. Olmsted NHS will close to
visitors on Sundays in November and December, 2004. We will be completely
closed to visitors for the duration of the construction project beginning
January 1, 2005; however, ranger and education staff will continue to offer
a limited schedule of off-site programs. The Olmsted Archives will close to
all researchers on November 1, 2004 so that we may prepare and safeguard
museum areas and move all collections currently stored outside the plans
vault to a temporary storage facility off-site. Once staff is relocated, we
hope to offer limited archives reference services during construction. The
entire period of construction, including all advance work and moving of
staff and museum collections, is expected to last 22 to 26 months. It is
our plan to re-open Olmsted NHS in the Summer/Fall of 2006 in time for the
site’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Typically, the Olmsted Archives are available by appointment Monday-Friday
for use by researchers with assistance from Museum Services staff. The
public also can request basic information about Olmsted design projects.
Contact: ARCHIVES, Frederick Law Olmsted NHS, 99 Warren Street, Brookline,
MA 02445, tel: 617.566-1689 or by email at: [log in to unmask]
~~ To protect the Olmsted archives and museum collections, Museum
Services staff will move collections currently stored in the Olmsted office
wing to a temporary location off-site during construction. The drawings and
plans collection will remain on-site and safely stored in the plans vault
during construction. The Olmsted Archives will be closed after October 31,
2004 for four to six months to allow staff to pack and move collections and
safeguard museum areas. Once we have relocated, we hope to offer limited
research services at our temporary location. As details are worked out,
updates concerning our new location and operating hours will be posted on
the Olmsted NHS website: www.nps.gov/frla.
Normally, Museum Services staff are able to provide reprographic copies of
original archival materials. Available formats depend on the size and
condition of the original documents.
~~ For the period of construction, Museum Services staff hope to
continue offering limited reprographic services once the collections and
staff have been relocated to a temporary facility.
The OLMSTED RESEARCH GUIDE ONLINE (ORGO) at www.rediscov.com/olmsted is a
searchable internet database of information about existing records related
to Olmsted design work. ORGO currently includes information about records
held at Olmsted NHS and the Library of Congress. In addition, ORGO includes
a “Project Information” search which allows researchers to search for
Olmsted design projects through a variety of access points – e.g., client
name, historic job number, project type, and city and state.
~~ Researchers can continue to access the ORGO website during our
construction project; another repository of Olmsted materials and
information is the U. S. Library of Congress: (202) 707-5387 www.loc.gov/
For more information on the Olmsted NHS construction project see:
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/frla/ppdocuments/Full%20Package.pdf
For more information on the Olmsted National Historic Site, go to
http://www.nps.gov/frla
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