The chief feature of The Front was the semi-circular terrace designed to command a panoramic view of Lake Erie and the opening of the Niagara River. Here, Olmsted remarked, one could observe “a river effect such as can be seen, I believe, nowhere else — a certain quivering of the surface and a rare tone of color, the result of the crowding upward of the lake waters as they enter the deep portal of the Niagara.”

With this prospect of water and infinity as background, the terrace, Olmsted thought, would also be an impressive setting for public ceremonies. “The root of all my work,” he said, “has been an early respect for and enjoyment of scenery.” Olmsted and Vaux’s plan also incorporated a large field for baseball and other sports. The park once included the adjacent grounds of Fort Porter, now the site of the Peace Bridge plaza. Learn more about your Buffalo Olmsted Park System at the official map & guide.

Self-Guided Mobile Audio Tour of Olmsted’s West Side

Experience Olmsted’s West Side with the free self-guided mobile audio tour. From Front Park to Colonial Circle, there are several points of interest to learn from.

West Side Audio Tour presented by Rich Products