Glen Echo

Glen Echo Park A Walking Tour The trestle that supported the Glen Echo trolley – the primary mode of public transportation that carried visitors to the park during the Chautauqua and early amusement park years – is visible from the bridge as you look toward MacArthur Boulevard. Located on the first floor of the Arcade Building, the Visitor Center features a timeline of the park’s history as well as documentaries and historic videos of the park. The National Park Service also offers free guided walking tours of the park. For tour times and reservations for groups of 10 people or more, please call 301-320-1400. 4 Visitor Center and Popcorn Gallery Photo by Candace Clifford Photo by Bruce Douglas Path into the park The Popcorn Gallery Clara Barton National Historic Site Photo by National Park Service The Baltzley brothers donated a house and land to Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, in an effort to bring prestige to their Glen Echo community. Built in 1891, it was first used as a warehouse for disaster relief supplies. In 1897, Miss Barton made it her home and the headquarters for the American Red Cross. Thinking the house looked too somber, Miss Barton changed the original granite façade of the residence to an elegant Victorian wooden façade, retaining only the granite corners. The National Park Service offers free daily guided tours of the site, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. To make reservations for groups of 10 or more, please call 301-320-1410. The neon sign marks the original entrance to the park. During the Chautauqua era, horse-drawn carriages pulled up to the entrance. Beginning in 1897, trolleys rode the rails to the park from Georgetown and continued on to the Cabin John Bridge, approximately one mile west of the park. Because the trolley company owned the park, it promoted the park to increase both park attendance and trolley ridership. Trolley service continued until January 1960. 5 A park ranger explains the timeline to visiting students. Discovery Creek Children’s Museum teaches children about the natural world. The stone Caretaker’s Cottage dates from the Chautauqua era and was originally a two-story structure. Today, the remaining first level of the building houses the park’s resident glassblowing studio. The Popcorn Gallery, which served as a refreshment stand during the amusement park era, opened in 2006 as an exhibition space operated by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Throughout the year, the Partnership organizes exhibitions that feature the work of local and regional artists. Photos by National Park Service An etching shows the original amphitheater, which became the Midway during the amusement park era. The Midway was destroyed in 1956 when it became too expensive to maintain. Discovery Creek Children’s Museum, a Living Classrooms program, offers children’s programs that continue the Chautauqua ideal of teaching about the natural world. Discovery Creek Children’s Museum is located in a building that once housed the electric supply for the amusement park. 2 Bridge over Minnehaha Creek Glen Echo Park is administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway Photo by Meredith Forster In 1890, brothers Edward and Edwin Baltzley created the Glen Echo on the Potomac real estate development hoping to lure Washingtonians to live in the beauty and serenity of this new suburban community. Glen Echo became the site of the 53rd Chautauqua Assembly, offering summer courses in the liberal and practical arts. The crown jewel of the Chautauqua was an 8,000seat amphitheater that sat atop Minnehaha Creek and used the water flow to power the speaker system. During the amusement park era, the amphitheater became the Midway, home to many rides and entertainments. Trolley and Entrance The Popcorn Gallery showcases the work of local and regional artists. Clara Barton on her front lawn The Minnehaha Creek and trolley trestle In 1972, six cupcake-shaped 3 sod-roofed yurts (an experimental housing design based on traditional Mongolian dwelling huts) were erected in the park on the site of the demolished roller coaster to offer resident artists much-needed studio space. In 1975, the park’s fledgling pottery classes moved out of the old amusement park cafeteria and into the yurts, establishing a permanent home for Glen Echo Pottery. The yurts also provide space for other resident studio artists. Chautauqua Tower, Yellow Barn, and Candy Corner The stone tower, once an entrance gate and bell tower, is the only remaining intact building from the Chautauqua era. During the amusement park era, it housed the park superintendent and security offices for the park. Renovated in 2008, the tower now houses two artist studios. Photo by Deborah Dubois It also provides space for two additional artist studios. The building was rebuilt in 2007. The Yellow Barn The Yellow Barn was built in 1914 and served as the amusement park’s woodworking and repair shop. Since 1994 it has housed the park’s resident painting and drawing program. Yurt Village The yurts provide studio space. Horse-drawn carriages and trolley cars at the park’s entrance Photo by Sharon McClintic The Caretaker’s Cottage once had two stories. Trolley passes often promoted the park. Candy Corner in the 1950s A pottery artist creates a bowl at Glen Echo Pottery. Photo by Deborah Lange Photo by National Park Service 6 The style of the entrance changed over the years, as did the style of the trolleys. The entrance to the park was reinvented many times before settling on the Art Deco style in 1940. Installed in 2003, the current neon “Glen Echo Park” sign is a replica of the 1940 sign. Photo by Jonathan Charry 1 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior The stone tower in the 1920s The Candy Corner sold sweets – cotton candy, candied apples, lollipops, and ice cream – during the amusement park era. Rebuilt in 2007, this space has been used for classroom space and children’s art programs. Yellow Barn artists paint the carousel horses. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ About Glen Echo Park Glen Echo Park is a national park like no other. In 1891, it was home to a Chautauqua Assembly, an educational summer camp where people could study the liberal arts and sciences. From the late 1890s until 1968, Glen Echo Park was a popular amusement park. During the 1960s, the private owners of the park tried unsuccessfully to redevelop the site as high-rise apartment buildings. The federal government acquired Glen Echo Park in 1970 and the National Park Service (NPS) reopened it to the public in 1971 as an arts park. In June 2002, the NPS transferred several major management functions of the park to Montgomery County, Maryland. The county in turn formed the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, a nonprofit organization, to manage the facilities and the arts, cultural, and educational programs at the park. Recognizing that Glen Echo Park is a treasure for the entire region, Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and the federal government committed over $22 million toward renovating the park’s facilities. This multi-year rehabilitation was completed in 2009. Today, more than 450,000 people visit the park annually for festivals, exhibitions, social dances, children’s theater, art classes, and ranger-led tours. This brochure was generously written and designed by Deborah Lange. Historic photographs were generously provided by Richard Cook, Harold Silver, Frederick W. Schneider III, and George Kiefer. Banner photographs (left to right): National Park Service, Meryl Silver, Daniel Schreiber, Bruce Douglas The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc. is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive, and also by funding from the Montgomery County government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. In addition, individual, foundation, and corporate donors generously support the Partnership. All programs are produced in cooperation with the National Park Service and Montgomery County, Maryland. This publication has been financed in part by the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission Grant Fund which is administered by the HPC and the Montgomery County Planning Board of the M-NCPPC, and with State Funds from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Area Authority. Also, this publication is made possible in part by funding from the Heritage Tourism Alliance of Montgomery County. The National Park Service preserves and protects over 390 treasures - natural, cultural, and recreational sites across the country. Experience Your America! Glen Echo Park Coaster Dips Constructed in stages, the Coaster Dips started out with seven dips. New dips and climbs were added over time until the ride covered the area from the Chautauqua Tower to the Minnehaha Creek. The Bumper Car Pavilion was originally called the Skooter when it came to the park in 1923. In 1995, the National Park Service organized a major volunteer effort that included constructing a foundation wall, replacing floorboards, and stabilizing the structure. The Bumper Car Pavilion is now a popular venue for dances, concerts, private rentals, classes, and special events. 11 Riders get ready to bump and dodge in competitive fun. The Gravity Railway, built in 1912, was later replaced by the Coaster Dips. Bumper Car Pavilion Photo by Peter Somerville In the past, various roller coasters occupied what is now the grassy area near the yurts and the park flagpole. The largest of them, the Coaster Dips, arrived in 1921. 7 A Walking Tour Contra dancers in the Bumper Car Pavilion The Cuddle Up, a teacup ride, arrived in 1946 and continued to be popular until the park closed in 1968. Today, the Cuddle Up is used for art classes and camp programs, and the stage is ideal for performances. 12 Cuddle Up and Hall of Mirrors Built in 1964, the Hall of Mirrors is now used for dance and movement classes. A 1960s aerial view showing the Coaster Dips, Chautauqua Tower, and Arcade The Crystal 9 Crystal Pool Pool opened in 1931. It was an Olympic-sized pool that accommodated up to 3,000 swimmers. In addition, it featured a quarter-acre sandy beach. The pool was filled in after the amusement park closed. In the 1980s, the area became the site of a children’s playground. In 2000, the local community installed new equipment, which it funded through a grassroots campaign. In 2009, the National Park Service updated the playground with new landscaping and seating. During the 1970s, the pool’s locker rooms housed a sculpture program and a foundry. Today, only the Art Deco façade remains. It was rebuilt in 2009. In 1970, the carousel was slated to be moved to California. The local community, however, raised the funds to purchase the carousel and donated it to the National Park Service, thereby saving it for present and future generations. The Glen Echo Park Partnership currently operates and maintains the carousel. The carousel continues to delight children of all ages. A 20-year effort to restore the carousel was completed in 2003. The carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, the ballroom was completely renovated, including placing windows in the open arches and restoring the tile foyer, Art Deco mirrors and lights, and painted columns. Today, the Spanish Ballroom is one of the best dance The shooting gallery in the original arcade The Moon Ride, pinball machines, and other games delighted amusement park patrons. The amusement park used stylized posters to promote its attractions. It also held drawings and contests. A dip in the pool followed by relaxation on the sandy beach was a perfect way for land-bound Washingtonians to spend a hot summer day. The Nutcracker, presented annually by the Puppet Co., is a holiday favorite. Night-time swimming was a special treat. Glen Echo Park is home to many music, dance, and family festivals, including the Washington Folk Festival. Today, swing dancing is popular in the ballroom. In the 1920s, A. L. Oehmann’s Glen Echo Dance Orchestra included a banjo player as rag tunes were popular. Rentals installed the playground. To volunteer, please call the National Park Service at 301-320-1400 or the Glen Echo Park Partnership at 301-634-2222. Festivals Photo by Deborah Lange halls on the East Coast. The Glen Echo Park Partnership co-produces a year-round schedule of events in the ballroom, including social dances in various styles – such as contra, swing, waltz, tango, and salsa – as well as classes and special events. Picture from the puppet co to go here. Adventure Theatre, the park’s longeststanding resident organization, offers live performances for children of all ages. Photo by Bruce Douglas The souvenir and game stand across from the carousel Photo by Tobias Karlsson In 1933, the Spanish mission-style 10 Ballroom Spanish Ballroom was built over the 7,500-square-foot floor of the previous Crystal Ballroom. Many big name bands – such as Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Lawrence Welk, Bill Haley and the Comets, and others – played to capacity crowds of up to 1,800 dancers. In the 1960s, the ballroom was used briefly as a Jungleland ride. In the 1970s, the National Park Service restored it to ballroom use. Arcade Before the Art Deco Arcade was built, the amusement park’s original arcade housed games and other attractions. The Comfort Station, or park restrooms, was originally the site of a souvenir and game stand. The National Park Service offices are now on the lower level. The amusement park’s First Aid Station, now called the Crystal Pool Studio, houses the park’s resident children’s art program. Formerly the site of the Chautauqua Hotel and Administration Building, the Art Deco Arcade was built in stages starting in 1940 to house games, such as a shooting gallery, skeeball, and other attractions. The main level of the Arcade Building now provides space for several longstanding resident arts organizations, including Adventure Theatre and the Puppet Co., as well as the park’s photography, fused glass, and music programs. Renovated and reopened in 2004, the upper levels of the Arcade Building house the offices of the Glen Echo Park Partnership and many classrooms. 13 Photo by Christopher Piper A confrontation at the park ultimately led to the park’s decision to embrace all people. Dentzel Carousel Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1960, the carousel was the focal point of a civil rights sit-in demonstration against segregation at the park. Yielding to local pressure, the park’s private owners opened its gates to all races in 1961. The Spanish Ballroom, Bumper Car Pavilion, Cuddle Up, Arcade classrooms, and other spaces at the park are available for private rentals. For more information about facility rentals, please call 301-634-2233. Photo by Deborah Lange Installed at Glen Echo Park in 1921, the carousel was made by the Musicians gather for one of the many festivals in the park. Volunteers The park’s active volunteer program has resulted in many benefits. Volunteers saved the Bumper Car Pavilion from demolition by stabilizing the structure. They repaired the floor of the Spanish Ballroom, planted flowers, and Photo by Deborah Lange 8 Dentzel Carousel Photo by Deborah Lange The Coaster Dips grew a bit each year until it reached the height shown at the right. The Alpine Hi-Ride arrived in 1966 and offered spectacular views of the park. Riders on the Cuddle Up Volunteers raise the last column of the Bumper Car Pavilion. The Spanish Ballroom is one of several venues that can be rented for special events. For National Park Service information, visit nps.gov/glec. For program information or to make a contribution, visit glenechopark.org. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™