Plans for Prospect Park

By

Design for Prospect Park in the City of Brooklyn. Olmsted and Vaux (Firm). 1871. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Each month the Brooklyn Historical Society, an organization I have unabashed adoration for, sends out a map from their archives to their email list. This one of an early design for Prospect Park is one of my faves so far. Here’s what they have to say about it:

An 1871 design from Olmsted, Vaux & Co, Landscape Architects, the map was made while the park was both open and still under construction. Today the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and Mount Prospect Park sit on what was the reservoir’s land. Also of interest is the land for sale around the reservoir — part of which makes up today’s Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

You can view the BHS map collection anytime during the library’s open hours, Wenesday to Friday, from 1-5 p.m. No appointment is necessary to view most maps. Their cataloged maps can be searched through BobCat and our map inventories through Emma.

One Response

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)