Glen Echo Park (7/7/2022)

Thursday, July 7, 2022

After a wonderful lunch with in-laws-to-be, Art & Debbie, at King Street Oyster Bar in Potomac, MD, we headed to Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD.

On the property is the Clara Barton National Historic Site,
with an 1891 building that served as a home for
Clara Barton since 1897, and also as the headquarters for the
American Red Cross (which she founded in 1881),
and as a warehouse for relief supplies

We crossed the Minnehaha Branch Creek;
above which is the Cabin John Trail that
follows the former Cabin John Trolley line

Glen Echo Park was initially developed as a National Chatauqua Assembly in 1891. After foreclosure and sale of the Chatauqua grounds in 1903, it became a leisure facility for the growing population of Washington, DC. In 1911 the site became the privately-owned Glen Echo Amusement Park. My family would take the Cabin John trolley to the amusement park from where we lived in Brookmont, MD. The amusement park closed in 1968, and is currently an arts and cultural center.

The 100th anniversary of the Denzel Carousel
was celebrated in 2021

The Denzel Carousel Pavilion (1921)

The carousel moves to the music of a Wurlitzer band organ 

Called a "menagerie carousel" because it is made up of many
different animals; with 40 horses, 4 rabbits, 4 ostriches,
giraffe, deer, lion, and tiger that stand in three concentric rings

A personal favorite were the rabbits

One of the "yurts (1972) that now house
the Glen Echo Pottery School

Pop Corn Gallery (1940, rebuilt 2003) was the refreshment stand

2007 replica of a concession stand, which is in front of
the Chatauqua or Stone Tower (1891)

2002 reproduction of the neon-lighted entrance,
with trolley tracks; some of the architecture
is considered Streamline Moderne

Kent stands on a "3D" cube

Tamiko attempts standing on one foot (KSS)

Arcade building (1940)

A former fountain?

Hall of Mirrors (1964) is now a dance studio

Bumper Car Pavilion (1923)

Spanish Ballroom (1933)

The First Aid Station (c 1931)

Crystal Pool (1931) entrance

Next: Josiah Henson Museum.