All Hallows Guild: Olmsted Woods
Learn more in this Slide Show!
The Olmsted Woods
Located at the base of Washington National Cathedral, the five-acre Olmsted Woods, one of the few old growth forests still standing in the nation’s capital, is a very special part of the Cathedral close. Originally part of an oak and beech forest, the area has been kept free from development since landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed the Cathedral gardens and grounds nearly 100 years ago. Now, a century later, the Olmsted Woods remains a woodlands, but greatly endangered. As Washington has grown, encroachment and overuse have caused extensive damage. According to a report issued in 1996 by consultant Biohabits, the Woodlands are threatened with extinction if action is not taken soon.
Olmsted Woods Restoration
Responding to this call, in 1996, All Hallows Guild announced that restoration of the Woods would be its 80th anniversary priority project. Since the project was launched AHG has made substantial headway: restoring the soil, planting native plants, removing invasive exotics, encouraging wildlife, and offering educational materials and Woods Walks throughout the year. After much research and review, AHG decided in 1999 to expand the project to include a series of walkways, contemplative pools, and a revitalized amphitheatre.
The stunning Pilgrim Way, an ecologically-sound hard-surface path, was dedicated in 2001. The fitted stone path winds from the George Washington Plaza to Garfield Street. Please stroll the Pilgrim Way, either by taking a Woods Walk tour or on your own, remembering Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.’s vision of pilgrims walking through the Woods to this great cathedral. The refurbished Woodland Bridge was opened with a dedication service and trumpet fan fare on January 10th.
All Hallows Guild Amphitheater
This is the Amphitheater. Its restoration is the third phase of the Olmsted Woods Restoration Project begun by All Hallows Guild nearly ten years ago. The cost will be more than $800,000, three-quarters of which has been raised. A $50,000 challenge grant has been offered to help raise additional funds necessary to realize this very special project.
Phase III will bring the restoration to final fruition. Surrounding trees had encroached upon the original outdoor amphitheater, and water runoff and erosion had created a steep and essentially unusable hillside. Once the amphitheater restoration is complete, those problems will be solved.
There will be ten terraces, each with a bluestone edge bracing a grassy three-foot strip The terraces, six to ten feet apart, will be wide enough to sit on, or place a chair on, or walk on. A natural bowl formed by these curved terraces will focus the attention of visitors toward the stage. The design will be of national significance, and the result a place for school convocations, outdoor services and pilgrimage. New plantings have been installed near the stage and in the Spring more will come.
One day, come to the Cathedral Close to see what is happening. Access is from Wisconsin Avenue on South Road, then down the Pilgrim Steps from the south side of the Cathedral. There, about 200 feet to the right of the George Washington statue, you will find the amphitheater. In the future, when the revitalization is complete, we urge you to take a moment to sit on one of the terraces. Besides convocations and services and pilgrimage, the amphitheater will also be a place for quiet contemplation, a beautiful green space here, in the heart of Washington.
During the winter months, self guided tours of the Woods are available on the Pilgrim Way Path.
“History in the Re-making at Washington National Cathedral’s
Olmsted Woods”
by Suzanne Miller, All Hallows Guild Board Member
All Hallows Guild continues as a thriving organization to raise funds to maintain and rejuvenate the Close plantings on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral—all 57 acres of it. Sapling native trees are being planted where mighty ancient oaks have fallen in the Olmsted Woods, the mature forest in the heart of Washington which both Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and All Hallows Guild insisted be conserved.
Today, an outdoor amphitheater is being shaped where Bishop Satterlee, Mr. Olmsted, Mrs. Bratenahl and All Hallows Guild planned it should be, on the slope between the Cathedral and the woodlands, creating yet another place to enjoy the flowering of Mount Alban. The earliest architectural drawings of the Cathedral Close include an amphitheater at the edge of the woods near St. Albans School. When in 1909 Olmsted drew up the first of his plans for the present Cathedral Close, the Open Air Amphitheater was shown greatly enlarged with room for more seating.
During the years before the laying of the corner stone of the Cathedral in 1907, people gathered on the south slope of the Cathedral grounds for regular outdoor services. Indoor services for the growing congregation were held in the Little Sanctuary or St. Alban’s parish church; in summer outdoor Sunday afternoon services were regularly held on the hillside
In the 1990’s All Hallows Guild took on the project of restoring the endangered forest and the amphitheater. Washington landscape architect, Michael Vergason, designed the amphitheater with the plantings of native trees, shrubs, and flowers which mirror the oak and beech woodland plantings in the surrounding Olmsted Woods. All Hallows Guild members Anne Elsbree and Anne (Dede) Petri have managed the three phases of the restoration project and led the successful effort to raise funds to pay for it. Water run-off has been channeled. An ecologically sound path winds up through the Olmsted Woods from Garfield Street to the amphitheater. After 10 years the project of restoring the native beauty of the woods and reviving the amphitheater is nearly completed.
The finishing touches are now being done to the Amphitheater—additional railings and plantings making the beauty of the Amphitheater even more breath-taking. From the entrance to this remarkable hillside project on Pilgrim Road, one can see the Washington Monument in the far distance and the beauty of the Woods as a backdrop to the stage. The Guild is looking forward to having Cathedral visitors, students, pilgrims and celebrants enjoy this outdoor space—adding to their experience whether it be a concert, a religious service, a wedding, or a picnic on the grounds. At its completion, All Hallows will have spent more than $2 million on this restoration plan—yet the graceful stone and grass amphitheater looks as if it had always been there.
Please come and visit the grounds of Washington National Cathedral. The gardens, grounds and woods are open for visitors to enjoy. To take an unscheduled tour of the Bishop’s Garden, meet Wednesday morning at 10:30 am in the Herb Cottage. Woods Walks continue throughout the summer.