parks movement: USA

Miasma Theory

The belief that diseases were spread through foul-smelling air, often attributed to unsafe water and poor sanitation practices.

Rural Cemetery Movement

A movement in the 19th century advocating for the establishment of rural cemeteries outside of cities, led by Dr. Jacob Bigelow to improve public health.

Transcendentalism

A philosophical movement emphasizing the existence of an ideal spiritual reality beyond empirical knowledge, influencing a connection to nature and stewardship of the land.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

An American rural romantic cemetery built in 1831, featuring design characteristics like curvilinear paths, mass plantings, and natural features.

Andrew Jackson Downing

A prominent figure in landscape architecture, known for his book on landscape gardening and his contributions to the Parks Movement in the US.

Parks Movement

A movement advocating for public parks in urban areas, influenced by Downing and leading to the establishment of the first country park in the US.

Living Conditions in Cities: 19th Century

In 19th century America, ________ __________ in cities were no different from England

• Infectious diseases were rife and have been attributed to unsafe water (miasma theory)

• Improper waste management especially with poor drainage

• Unpaved streets

• Poor food handling

• Over-crowded unventilated housing

• Women and children working 6 days a week

• Street cars pulled by animals

• Pollution, animal death, disease, overall horrible living conditions (The Devil in the white city)

1. Romantic Period

2. Rural Cemetery Movement

3. Andrew Jackson Downing

4. Parks movement, England

The situation in the US started to change due to the following strong influences:

Romantic Period

1. Inclination towards the Naturalistic style in the Early National Period became popular across English-Speaking North America

2. Influence of Transcendentalism as a philosophy interested in the Stewardship of the land, natural life, and animal life

3. The natural landscape of America generating admiration for the natural rural scenery

Transcendentalism 

“A philosophical movement which asserts the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends empirical and scientific knowledge”

Rural Cemetery Movement

• Yellow Fever and Smallpox claiming up to 75,000 lives a years in the US in the 19th century

• Dr. Jacob Bigelow was convinced that churchyards used as burial grounds was a menace to public health

• His advocacy resulted in State Legislature dedicated real estate for a “rural cemetery”

• Thus, the building of Mount Auburn Cemetery and the movement 

• Cemeteries used for strolling, solitude and families’ picnics

• Completely America invention- - - Influence on the Parks Movement in the US

Mount Auburn Cambridge, MA 1931

• Rural Romantic Cemetery was an American invention of the 19th century

• Out of cities— out of churchyards— into the rural landscape 

• Chosen sites usually had natural features like landforms, existing wods, water bodies, or impressive distant views

Design Characteristics of Mt. Auburn

- Plan composed of roads and paths fitted into the landform

- Trees & shrubs planted in masses to increase its beauty

Characteristics of Romantic Period

• Romantics statuary, urns and landmarks

• Small ponds

• Romantic style pavilions and structures

• Classical and rustic site furniture

• Rolling ground planes covered in meadow-like grasses and natural vegetation

• Areas given descriptive names like “Laurel Hill” and “Oak Grove”

• Paths and roads named after trees like Elm, Oak, and Juniper

• Design characteristics of Mt. Auburn prevailed in the US— Mt. Auburn became popular

• Improved effect on public health and creating healthful burial places

• Within 7 years, major cities had established similar cemeteries

Mount Auburn, Cambridge MA

First rural romantic Cemetery

Andrew Jackson Downing

• First American writer on landscape arch topics

• Editor ; Publisher of The Horticulturist  magazine in 1846-52

• From a horticulturist family: Father- nurseryman; brother educated him in plant propagation and the use of plants 

• A treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening Adapted to North America (1841)

• Stimulated American’ Interest in home properties and landscape

Scenery and Persuasive writing

Andrew Jackson Downing had a passion for what?

1. Horticulture

2. Architecture

3. LARC

(H.A.L)

A.J. Downing contributed to what three things?

Environmental Psychology

Downing’s conviction that human behavior is greatly affected by the environment (_____________ ____________)

Naturalistic Style; American

Downing explained and revised the ____________ ________ to the ______________ environment and residents

• Two significant conclusions of the AJ Downing’s book are:

1. The “Beautiful” and the Picturesque” are not opposite but points along a visual continuum from simplified naturalistic to real naturalism

2. It is important to frame distant views of majestic American landscape and make them part of the design composition

“Beautiful”; “Picturesque” ; opposite ; simple ; real

one significant conclusion of the AJ Downing’s book:

1. The “________” and the “__________” are not ________ but points along a visual continuum from _________ naturalistic to ________ naturalism

distant ; American landscape ; design composition

1. It is important to frame _________ views of majestic ___________ ________ and make them part of the __________ _________

Downing and the Parks Movement

Downing's place in the history of LARC rests on 2 significant acts of service:

1. In 1850, he found and brought Calvert Vaux to America

2. Journalism campaign, along with William Cullen Bryant, for a public park in New York. His writing in 1851 was responsible for passing the first Park-Act Legislation that brought the FIRST “country park” to the New World

Downing's place in the history of Larc rests on 2 significant acts of service:

1. In 1850, he found and brought Calvert Vaux to America

2. Journalism campaign, along with William Cullen Bryant, for a public park in New York. His writing in 1851 was responsible for passing the first Park-Act Legislation that brought the FIRST “country park” to the New World

he founded the brought Calvert Vaux to America

what did AJ Downing do in 1850?

William Cullen Bryant; New York ; 1851 ; country park

The second act of service of AJ Downing:

Journalism campaign, along with __________ _______ ________, for a public park in _______ ______. His writing in ______ was responsible for passing the first Park-Act Legislation that brought the FIRST “_________ _______” to the New World

The first Park-Act Legislation that brought the FIRST “Country Park” to the New World

What did AJ Downing’s writing in 1851 do?

Cottage Res. Italian Style

Cottage Res. English Style

Cottage Res. Irregular Cottage Style