A treat for me and my siblings growing up in D.C. was a trip to the Glen Echo Amusement Park, a small venue just a couple of miles from the D.C.-Maryland line. I don't recall everything about it, I do recall the carousel of course, and Glen Echo had the distinction of having the first bumper cars in the US. along with a penny arcade, skeeball, shooting galleries, a wooden roller coaster and even a tunnel of love. The park was also a terminus for streetcars coming from town. Sections of track are still evident in the blacktop parking lot. In 1968 the park closed. The original plan was to sell the land off for housing development but better angels prevailed and the National Park Service took over the property in 1970. Today, the working carousel remains along with some buildings from old attractions, but the other amusements are gone. Glen Echo Park is now an arts and performance center as well as home to several landmarks.
I decided to get out early to visit the park on a Sunday morning. The park grounds open at 6AM, activity starts around 11AM. I wanted to photograph the architecture, which I found particularly interesting, without visitors around. My 8AM arrival was accompanied by blue skies, low humidity and 68 degree temps. Is this really August in Washington D.C.?
Aug 10, 2025 at 05:04 PM
Previous versions of aboudd's message #16868002 « Glen Echo »
