A seemingly stolen refuge of serenity, Volunteer Park is perched atop Seattle’s lively Capitol Hill neighborhood and spans 48.3 acres. In addition to its landscape and vistas, Volunteer Park includes an observation water tower, conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Volunteer Park: Short History
In 1876, the city began purchasing the land that now constitutes Volunteer Park, though it wasn’t until 1903, when the Olmsted brothers proposed a comprehensive initiative for parks, boulevards and playgrounds throughout Seattle, that Volunteer Park began to truly take shape. The park’s name honors those who enlisted to fight in the Spanish-American War.
The Olmsted Influence and Legacy
Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. (1822-1903) was a landscape architect, author and conservationist who advocated community, culture and education. Olmsted strove to inspire people aesthetically, and believed that natural scenery could powerfully and positively impact society. After contributing to the design and fulfilling the role of architect-in-chief for New York City’s Central Park, Olmsted spent the next 30 years refining landscape architecture and contributing to major urban parks, park systems and scenic reservations throughout the country.
Following Olmsted Sr.’s tradition, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and John Charles Olmsted created a master plan for Seattle’s Parks Commission. They proposed 68 parks and 18 boulevards for Seattle, of which 17 parks and 14 boulevards were constructed.
Elements of Olmsted Design in Volunteer Park
Espousing nature’s restorative potential, Olmsted Design integrates the natural landscape into their parks and reservations, aiming to reflect and enhance native plants and patterns of flora and fauna. Olmsted Design also capitalizes upon vistas and viewpoints whenever possible. This holds true in Volunteer Park where glimpses of downtown, the harbor and the mountains seamlessly merge with the arching paths. Mirroring the region’s lush landscape, Volunteer Park’s design includes lily ponds and layers of native evergreen plants that convey the feeling of walking through natural woodland.
The Water Tower
The Olmsted’s proposal for an observation tower (which they emphasized should be tall enough to provide breathtaking views even as the trees reached full height) was fulfilled in 1906 with the construction of the water tower. The observation deck provides ample reward after climbing the 106 steps and reveals the constantly unraveling beauty of the Puget Sound region with its 360-degree view.
The Conservatory
Completed in 1912, Volunteer Park’s Conservatory includes five houses: the Bromeliad House, the Palm House, the Fern House, the Seasonal Display House and the Cactus House. Part of the Olmsted brothers original plan, the Conservatory is a 6,200 square foot Victorian greenhouse.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum
Featuring Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art, the Seattle Asian Art Museum sits majestically in the 1933 Art Moderne building which was the original home of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). The Seattle Asian Art Museum’s holdings are amongst the top 10 outside of Asia, and the Japanese collection ranks as one of the top five in the United States. In addition to its beautiful architecture and unique collections, the museum hosts lectures, concerts and cultural events.
An Ideal Retreat
Whether you’re seeking a memorable place to escape with a picnic or a book, a picturesque, panoramic view of Seattle, or a renowned art collection, Volunteer Park fulfills Olmsted’s vision of tranquility amidst the sometimes frenetic pace of urban living, offering a calming antidote to the city’s rigors.
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