Original entrance to Glen Echo Park in Maryland
Glen Echo Park Historical Buildings
Standing at the main entrance to Glen Echo Park today is a 2002 reproduction of the art deco entrance sign from 1940. Most of it is new, with only part of the original canopy remaining. This entrance has been used since the park opened, even going back to the days of the 1891 Chautauqua. During the renovation a short stretch of trolley tracks was installed, and for a while an old trolley car was on display. It was not there during my recent visit.
Original entrance to Glen Echo Park (photo by Paul Waldo)
Trolley service began in 1897, with the line running between the park and Georgetown. Having an amusement park as a destination was a great way for trolley companies to drum up business. In fact, trolley companies owned the park from 1903 until 1954.
1939 Entrance to Glen Echo Park (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-DIG-fsa-8a31655)
1935 ticket for the Capital Transit Company
Visitors to Glen Echo Park no longer arrive at the main entrance but instead come from a parking lot on the opposite side. This parking lot is shared with the Clara Barton National Historic Site.
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Last updated on January 12, 2025
