Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo Park is one of the finest cultural resources in the Washington, DC area.

It is home to 13 resident artists and arts organizations, a thriving social dance program, a restored 1921 Dentzel Carousel, two award-winning children's theaters, a weekend drop-in art program for children, numerous art studios and galleries, a nature program, and hundreds of classes in visual and performing arts, including ceramics, painting, photography, glass, music, dance, and more. These activities, as well as free summer concerts, festivals, and special events bring thousands of visitors to the Park each year.

The site was first developed in the 1890s as a Chautauqua retreat and soon became the premier Washington area amusement park, serving the community until 1968. In 1971 the federal government acquired the land in order to preserve the Potomac Palisades and prevent development along the river. The management of the Park was assigned to the National Park Service, which established the core of the current arts program.

In 2002, the National Park Service transferred management of the Park to Montgomery County, which in turn created the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, a new nonprofit, to oversee the Park’s arts programs and historic facilities.

From 2003 to 2010, extensive renovations of the Park's facilities took place under the direction of Montgomery County and the National Park Service with input from the Partnership and resident organizations. These renovations were funded with major federal, state, and county resources as well as private donations. Renovations included: the Spanish Ballroom, the Dentzel Carousel, the Puppet Co. Playhouse, the Arcade building, the Yellow Barn, Adventure Theatre, the Candy Corner, the Chautauqua Tower, the Ballroom Annex, and the Caretaker's Cottage.