National Register of Historic Places

Chautauqua Tower

Glen Echo, Montgomery County, Maryland
Listed
July 3, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000350

About this property

Glen Echo Park is an arts and cultural center in Glen Echo, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Located about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of the city's downtown area, the park's site was initially developed in 1891 as a National Chautauqua Assembly. After the foreclosure and sale of the Chautauqua grounds in 1903, leisure facilities were developed there to serve the city's growing population. In 1911, the site was expanded to become the privately owned Glen Echo Amusement Park, a popular facility that operated until 1968. The National Park Service (NPS) now operates the park, which functions as a regional cultural resource when offering classes, workshops, dances and performances in the visual and performing arts. The park is known for its Streamline Moderne architecture, an antique Dentzel carousel and its historic Spanish Ballroom, as well as for its children's theater and social dance programs. Visitors also come to the park to participate in its festivals and events, which include the Washington Folk Festival and a Family Day. The NPS maintains a visitors center and conducts park history tours. More than 350,000 people attend events and participate in instructional activities at the park during each year.

Location

Glen Echo, Montgomery County, Maryland
38.96638, -77.13799

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Carousel at Glen Echo Park
Industrial
0 mi
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Glen Echo Park Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Krieger, Seymour, House
Industrial
0.7 mi
Cabin John Aqueduct
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

DC Defenses — Fort DeRussy Engagement 1864
1864Civil War
4.3 mi
Lewinsville Skirmish
1861Civil War
5 mi
Fort Stevens — Early's Attack on Washington (July 11-12, 1864)
1864Civil War
5.5 mi
Skirmish at Fort Stevens
1864Civil War
5.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chautauqua Tower listed on the National Register?

Chautauqua Tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Chautauqua Tower?

Chautauqua Tower is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chautauqua Tower?

The period of significance for Chautauqua Tower is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Chautauqua Tower?

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