A Legacy in the Living Landscape: A Conversation with Bob Page, FASLA

After nearly four decades of shaping the way the National Park Service identifies, protects, and manages its most storied grounds, Bob Page, FASLA, is stepping into a new chapter. As the Director of the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, Page has been a foundational figure in the National Park Service (NPS), helping to elevate cultural landscapes to a primary pillar of historic preservation.

As he prepares for his retirement, Page sat down with LAND to reflect on a career that began not in a design studio, but in the dirt. "I developed that interest really through manual labor," Page recalls of his high school years, caretaking properties in Massachusetts. "From that experience, I realized I enjoyed a connection to the landscape, which led me to discover the field of landscape architecture."

That connection led him to the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Guided by mentors and internships in Syracuse, he pivoted from an early interest in urban design toward the burgeoning field of historic preservation.

Building a Foundation

When Page joined the NPS in 1990, the Cultural Landscapes Program was in its infancy. Stationed in Washington, D.C., for his first decade, he was part of a talented team tasked with a daunting challenge: applying the philosophies of historic preservation-traditionally designed for static objects like buildings and archeological sites - to the living, breathing, and ever-changing medium of the landscape.

"How do you evaluate change?" Page asks. "What does restoration mean in a landscape where change is inherent?" The framework his team developed - encompassing policy, terminology, and inventory procedures - was so transformative that the program received a Presidential Award for Design Excellence in 2000.

The Evolution of the Field

Over three decades, Page has witnessed the discipline of historic landscape preservation expand its lens. While early efforts focused on traditional landmarks, the work has evolved to embrace a broader, more inclusive narrative. He points to recent efforts to bring Indigenous ecological knowledge to the table, specifically citing work in Virginia to engage native communities in the preservation and interpretation of their ancestral lands.

"Part of our role is defining what is important about a place," Page says. "Over time, we've become much better at making that as broad as possible and bringing all the voices into the research."

Advice for the Future

To early and mid-career landscape architects, Page offers a simple directive: explore. "Internships were an incredibly valuable way to test out what I really liked - and as importantly, what I didn't."

As he prepares for a nearly month-long journey to Italy to "shake up the mind," followed by an adventure through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, Page remains an ardent advocate for the agency he served for nearly four decades.

"Landscape architects have shaped the National Park Service since its establishment," he says. "The mission is so easy to buy into: preserving these places for future generations. It is a gift if you find yourself in that situation."