Book excerpt: The first book on Bok Tower Gardens, the exceptional National Historic Landmark in central Florida designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and Milton B. Medary. Built in 1929 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993, Bok Tower Gardens is not only an architectural and landscape masterpiece, it is also the embodiment of a fascinating moment in American history. Publisher, philanthropist, and naturalist Edward Bok commissioned two esteemed designers, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and architect Milton B. Medary, to create a sanctuary that would preserve the natural beauty of the state. Located on 600 acres, the historic garden is centered on the beautiful Pinewood Estate and the 205-foot-high marble and coquina Singing Tower, which houses one of the world’s finest carillons. One of the great achievements of America’s golden age of architecture, Bok Tower Gardens is a complete work of art that is also an extraordinary public monument.