Central Park, An American Masterpiece: A Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park by Sara Cedar Miller

Central Park, An American Masterpiece: A Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park by Sara Cedar Miller

Every New York City tour bus stops at Strawberry Fields; countless movies have been filmed at Bethesda Terrace; and concerts from the Great Lawn are broadcast throughout the nation. These places are all part of Central Park, America's first public park and a paragon of 19th-century landscape design. Marking the park's 150th anniversary, this first definitive history celebrates the splendor and significance of this national treasure. Sara Cedar Miller, the official historian and photographer for the Central Park Conservancy, draws on extensive research to tell the captivating story of the park's creation, placing it in the context of 19th-century American art and social history and illuminating the roles of its designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and their associate Jacob Wrey Mould. Fascinating period views and original plans and drawings, many previously unpublished, are complemented by Miller's breathtaking new photographs, which reveal the restored park in all its glory.

There is more to Central Park than meets the eye or is seen at the movies: 843 acres of prime, green land in the middle of one of the most important cities of the worldAnd man-made too, the landscape sculpted by thousands of men over twenty years to create a haven in the midst of a bustling city. Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it has continued to evolve for 150 years and this superb book has been produced to celebrate this great piece of art, this American earthwork, in all its glory. Author and photographer Sara Cedar Miller, the official historian and photographer for the Central Park Conservancy, expertly leads the reader through its labyrinthine walkways, exploring the avenues, terraces, meadows and ravines, all beautifully encapsulated within her stunning photographs. Little known hideaways and gardens are revealed, accompanied by their history and examinations of their wildlife and flora. It is a marvel that this can survive in the midst of New York City and is a testament to the Conservancy of their care and management. Archival footage reveals the evolution of this great garden over the last century and a half and this work will no doubt become a valuable reference for future generations in its continuing development of this American masterpiece. - Lucy Watson

Sara Cedar Miller has been the photographer for the Central Park Conservancy since 1984, and its official historian since 1989. Miller lectures extensively on the history of Central Park, serves as a park spokesperson on radio and television, conducts specialized tours, and has taught a popular course on the park at the New School in New York City. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780810939462
ISBN 10	0810939460
Title	Central Park, An American Masterpiece: A Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park
Author	Sara Cedar Miller
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Abrams
Year published	2003-05-01
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.