Part amusement park, part historic site, and in large part a cultural center, Glen Echo Park hosted Then and Wow! on Saturday, June 23. Glen Echo was originally a Chautauqua retreat when it opened in 1891, but eight years later, it was home to a small amusement park. By the early 20th century, a trolley line from D.C. ended at Glen Echo, making the amusement park a popular destination for many Washingtonians, but not all — the park was racially segregated until 1961. Glen Echo closed as a commercial amusement park in 1968, and the National Park Service, which acquired the site in 1971, still maintains the grounds. After being managed by the National Park Service and later Montgomery County in subsequent years, Glen Echo is now managed by the Glen Echo Partnership for Arts and Culture.
Glen Echo's Dentzel carousel is a nod to the park's history as an amusement park. The Spanish Ballroom and Bumper Car Pavilion host concerts and dance lessons. The Yellow Barn features art exhibits throughout the year, and elsewhere in the park are studios for ceramics, photography, glassblowing and more.
<1b>— Photos by Robbie Hammer