Riverside Park

I am investigating the development of Riverside Park and its landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. I’ll be looking at Riverside Park in the vicinity of Morningside Heights, so from approximately 110th St. to 125th St. This area includes Grant’s Tomb and the Amiable Child Monument, both of which are possible topics of investigation.

This parcel of land next to the Hudson River was undeveloped until the construction of the Hudson River Railroad in 1846, which was built to connect New York City to Albany. Construction of the park began in 1872.

Frederick Law Olmsted, celebrated landscape architect of Central Park, was instrumental in planning Riverside Park, and my research will include Olmsted’s writings and drawings. I would also like to include the social history of the park – the demographics of the neighborhood and how the park was used. My project will incorporate maps and a timeline.

Anice Mills

Author: Anice Mills

Anice Mills has been the Undergraduate Services Librarian in the Humanities & History Libraries since 2002. She holds an M.A. in Russian History from the University of London and an M.S. in Library and Information Science from LIU/Palmer School. She is the selector for the Milstein Undergraduate Library housed in Butler Library. She aims to support the research interests of undergraduates in Columbia College and General Studies, with particular focus on incorporating digital tools and methods into their research. Her project focus is on the history and development of Riverside Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and built between 1875 and 1910 alongside the Hudson River to complement the developing Morningside Heights community.