This weekend, my family and I went to the famed Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD. Glen Echo Park is a well known and historic destination that has been familiar to Washingtonians and Marylanders alike for over a century.
My parents took me to Glen Echo often as a kid to see plays (with marionettes!) and to ride the carousel, which underwent a massive renovation that spanned 20 years (!) from 1983 and 2003.
The park was founded in 1893 and operated as an amusement park until 1963. The Dentzel Carousel was built in 1921 and remains a popular attraction today. It's the only carousel owned and operated by the U.S. government, and was the site of a sit-in protest during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1960, a group of students (mostly from Howard University) refused to exit the carousel (for whites only) and 5 African Americans were subsequently arrested. They took their case to the Supreme Court, and their convictions were later overturned. The park was opened to all races in 1961.
The Spanish Ballroom is also pretty amazing, and hosts weekly swing, waltz, swing, contra and salsa dancing events. My old high school is even holding its prom there this year. My grandfather's ladyfriend, Lil, used to go to dances there in the 1940s during WWII. We actually bumped into another woman who had also, and she and Lil reminisced a bit about it. Here's how their conversation went:
Lady: I remember dances here during the war. So much fun!Be sure to check out Glen Echo if you have a chance. It's a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, if only just to read a book. They mean "park" literally -- the grounds are green and lush, and the lack of crowds make it a great spot to relax on a summer day. And moreover, they need your patronage to keep the park running! Let's not let Glen Echo become just another part of history.
Lil: I used to come here too! I'll bet at the same one at some point.
Lady: I bet you're right. I remember dancing with more than a few servicemen. Never went home with any of them though.
Lil: I did!
Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture Inc.
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, MD 20812
301.634.2222
And who says riding the carousels is just for kids? My grandfather, Lil and I had a rip-roaring good time. If you're young at heart, the carousel will always hold some thrill. By the way, they just might be the coolest old people ever.
Grandpa. This is easily one of the best picture I've ever taken. Ever.
Grandpa and Lil
Lil and Me
3 comments:
Glen Echo sounded familiar, so I did a satellite view of Google maps -- I know that place! Well, I mean, when I was *yay* high.
I looooove the photos.
That picture of your grandpa on the carousel is great for so many reasons, mainly because the deer he's on is a stationary animal that doesn't go up and down like the animals around the inner circles. So while it looks like he's flying off/around, it's a) not that fast and b) he's not moving as much as say, Lil or you were.
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