I herewith present you a plan for the improvement of Niagara Square. In designing it, I have had in view the fact, that Niagara Square is the central feature of the plan of your city, and that broad streets approach and cross it from eight directions. It is first of all a place of thoroughfare, and, in my judgment, nothing should be done which will seriously injure its character in this respect. For this reason I cannot approve the suggestion which has been urged upon me, and which I understand has been favorably entertained by many, of appropriating the greater part of its limited area to a public garden.

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Plan for Niagara Square, Buffalo, October 1874

Maintaining the present thoroughfares at their full breadth and on the same general plan as at present, eight triangles remain, the parts of which nearest the center of the Square are too narrow to be of any value. If they are reduced materially in depth the central space would be very large and need some effective decoration, neither breaking the view nor obliging travel to deviate abruptly or to an inconvenient distance from any of its present courses. For this purpose nothing would be better than a circular fountain basin at the center of the Square, provided convenience will allow it to be made large [101] enough to appear suitable to a situation of so much importance, and in which it must be seen without support from adjoining objects.

This idea has been adopted in the plan: The fountain basin being made one hundred feet in diameter and designed to require as moderate a cost for construction as possible; its circumference being a low coping and rail; its center a body of spray without expensive masonry and a large part of the effect to be obtained by a belt near the circumference, of water plants; the design being similar to that of the new fountain in Union Square, New York, but larger in scale. A wheel-way is then allowed around the fountain nowhere less than sixty feet in breadth.

The general plan of the remaining outer parts of the Square will be readily understood on examination of the drawing. The present trees of the Square so far as valuable are proposed to be utilized and others added so as to form effective groups which are to stand in turf plats. Seats are to be placed about and under the trees, the backs of which connected by railings will protect the turf and trees from injury.

My opinion has been asked as to several points under discussion in regard to a memorial of the late war.

There is a certain advantage to be gained by placing a memorial object in the midst of the city, rather than in its suburbs, which will fully justify the Commission in changing its original plan of assigning the Soldiers’ Place to the proposed monument, if it is desired by those who have the matter in charge. A suggestion as to the form of the Memorial has been presented in a drawing of an arch.

I think the design a very original and very noble one, and that it might be adopted with unusual confidence of an imposing and satisfactory result.

I should recommend that it be placed as indicated in the drawing on one side of the Square and so as to span one of the wheel-ways leading out of it. In this position it would be seen in its best aspect by all crossing the Square, and equally well from nearly all parts of it. Placed in the center, its principal front would be seen satisfactorily from only about a third part of the Square. There are several reasons why the position indicated on the north side of the Square, spanning Delaware street, is to be preferred to any other. The best light will then fall upon it; its inscriptions will therefore be more legible and its sculpture will have the best effect. The two spaces on which the largest number of visitors can stand on the Square, without disturbance by carriages, will be opposite to it, and at the best distance for viewing it comprehensively. The carriage-way is narrower than any other, and the arch could here be built at less cost. Its piers would stand, as shown, on ground at present intermediate between the wheel-way and the walks.

It is to be presumed that the private rights now held in the borders of Delaware street will at some time be extinguished, the trees and walks in them be arranged on an uniform system, and that it will in all respects be treated and used as a public promenade and approach road from the center of the city [102]

H. H. Richardson’s Proposed Civil War Memorial for Niagara Square, Buffalo, c. December 1874

I recommend that, in case the Memorial Association should be willing to adopt a design of the character of that under consideration and to undertake its construction, the Commission offer to assign the site indicated on the plan (aa) and to lay suitable and sufficient foundations for it.

I have received your favor of the 13th and thank you for your expression of interest in and kind consideration of the plan I have submitted to the Committees of Congress.

My duty has been with the grounds of the Capitol and I have avoided approaching the province of the architect further than was necessary to the presentation of the proposition of the terrace and stairways. As to the building [104]

View of West Front of U.S. Capitol from southwest showing existing condition with earth terraces (1875)

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View of West Front of U.S. Capitol from southwest showing terraces proposed by Olmsted (1875)

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In regard to your inquiry whether the wide terrace which I propose will not dwarf and conceal the Capitol, I must ask you to consider the question with the perspective drawing before you. To gain the advantage of the terrace without serious disadvantage in that respect has been the chief problem of my design. I think that with the aid of Mr Clark and of my architectural assistant, Mr Wisedell, I have fairly solved it.

Before preparing the plan I experimented with a temporary staging and satisfied myself as to the line of elevation for the terrace at which the building would not suffer, assuming the terrace wall to be of marble and its parapet to be fully as open as that on the roof.

To place it low enough, an expedient was necessary that is not shown in the drawings exhibited though you may trace it on the plan of the grounds. It is that of dividing the terrace floor into two stages, the outer one being four feet below that against the walls of the Capitol. The top of the marble parapet is thus kept five feet below the lower course of marble of the building and it will be only on closely approaching it that any part of the building will be hidden.

I think that there is no point of view in which an observer can be expected to place himself (if my plan is adhered to) at which the Capitol will not appear more stately with the terrace than without.