Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo Park - A History page

Back to Glen Echo Park Extended Home Page | Back to History

NOTE: The black and white photographs in this section are the Copyright © 1996 of Richard A Cook. Richard has a large collection of historic photographs of Glen Echo and he has generously given permission to the National Park Service to use some of the pictures for the sole purpose of promoting and publicizing Glen Echo Park on the WWW. Some have never been published before.

Published in 2000. Glen Echo Park: A Story of Survival picture history book containing over 100 of these historic photographs on high quality glossy paper. For fuller details click here

From Past to Present. For almost 100 years, the land on which the present Glen Echo Park sits has been dedicated to people. First, in 1891, as a National Chautauqua Assembly, a center where people could participate in the sciences, arts, languages, and literature. Then, until 1968, as a famous amusement park. Now, coming full circle, as a park emphasizing arts and cultural education for the community.
In this latest incarnation, the land and the historical remnants of former buildings host a variety of activities for both the community and visitors. You can simply wander on the Midway and remember the sights and sounds of an old amusement park where you came as a child or adult to play miniature golf, see yourself distorted in the Hall of Mirrors, dance to the music of Glen Miller, sun on the sand beach of the Crystal Pool, or whack your bumper car into someone else's while sparks flew from the electrified ceiling.
On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and weekends during the summer you can still ride and listen to the tunes from the antique, hand-carved Dentzel Carousel, preserved through community effort. You can visit an art exhibit in the Old Stone Tower the only usable structure from the Chautauqua Assembly. During the warm months, Glen Echo is host to a number of festivals and special events, and between March and November you can dance the evening away in the Spanish Ballroom. Year-round theater performances, classes and workshops in dance, visual and performing arts, have brought Glen Echo Park full circle back to beginning as a Chautauqua site.

Click on small pictures to see a larger version.

Edwin and Edward Baltzley
Edward Baltzley's house in Glen Echo Heights and the trolley
Chautauqua Hotel and Office ca 1896
The Chautauqa Amphitheater

First: The Chautauqua Assembly. It began when Edwin and Edward Baltzley conceived of promoting the sale of land and houses by establishing a Glen Echo Chautauqua "to promote liberal and practical education, especially among the masses of the people and to fit them for the duties which devolve upon them as members of society." The Chautauqua Movement was already popular and, financing their efforts with the profits from Edwin's inventions, the Baltzleys opened theirs in June, 1891. It was a success until Henry Spencer, operating the Spencerian Business School at the site, died of pneumonia. Rumors spread that he had died of malaria, and the rumors were enough to make people stop coming to this "Rhineland of the Potomac." That brief season was the only Chautauqua Assembly on the site.
In the years that followed, from 1893 to 1898, the Baltzleys rented Glen Echo to different fundraising organizations which continued using the land for public shows and entertainment.

Chautauqua Tower and Fountain

Chautauqua Tower ca 1896

Front of Park around turn of century

Then, An Amusement Park. In 1899 the Baltzleys rented Glen Echo to the Glen Echo Company, who put a full-fledged amusement park on the land. In 1911, Leonard Schloss was hired as General Manager and for the next 40 years he spent his life turning the site into the premier amusement park in the area. The famous Dentzel Carousel arrived in 1921, the Spanish Ballroom and the Crystal Pool in the 30s, along with latest in amusement rides. During World War ll, with limitations on travel and large numbers of service men and women in the area, Glen Echo Amusement Park had an unprecedented number of visitors, most traveling by trolley from Union Station or Georgetown along the C&O Canal. The park was always ahead of the times, and one of the most popular spots in Washington. The rides and the ballroom attracted thousands - the pool alone held 3000 people. But tastes changed and by the mid-sixties Glen Echo's heydays were over. Attendance dropped markedly and at the end of the 1968 season the owners announced the park would close. But the land was still there, occupied by remnants of the buildings which traced in their facades a history of architectural tastes.
Trolley Pass showing Crystal Pool - 1935

The park in 1968

Now: A Cultural Arts Park. Community action on the part of a group of public-spirited citizens helped to assure the future of Glen Echo Park. In 1971, through a land exchange with its owners, Glen Echo Park was acquired by the Federal government. Between the time the amusement park closed and the beginning of National Park Service management, many of the rides were sold including the historic Dentzel Carousel, brought to the park in 1921. A group of interested individuals organized a fundraising campaign to repurchase the Carousel, thus enabling it to be kept at the park for public enjoyment. Bringing the park into public ownership saved the land from possible development which could have adversely affected the natural beauty of the Potomac Palisades and the bordering C & O Canal National Historic Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Through consultation with educators, artists, community leaders, and special interest groups, an initial theme evolved - to use the land as a resource center, an educational and cultural forum where artists, students, teachers, and visitors could meet and exchange ideas, as well as learn from each other. It was not a new idea but a recycled one from the days when the park functioned as the Chautauqua Assembly. Once again, Glen Echo would be a learning center.
Professionals in fields ranging from performing and visual arts to consumer-oriented topics were invited to move into the remaining buildings of the amusement park, repair and refurbish these structures and bring them back to life. In exchange, the groups agreed to open their facilities to the public with classes, as well as provide an assortment of free demonstrations and performances. Other artists came to teach in the multi-purpose classrooms, thus widening the scope of activities. With the addition of the summer Chautauqua Season and its several large festivals, weekend dances, and lectures for the public the park has continued to flourish.

The Carousel

One of the Yurts that house artists - 1972

Spanish ballroom - 1997

Future: A Cooperative Effort. Drawing on its history and the enthusiastic interest shown in its cultural revitalization, the land and the structures of the park will be developed through cooperation of government and private sectors to advance opportunities for the public to enjoy its many resources
Find out more: The 60-minute documentary film, "Glen Echo on the Potomac" by local film-maker Kevin Wyrauch is shown at 2:00pm every Saturday in the National Park Service office. The film traces the park's 106 year history, much of it told first hand by native Washingtonians. Stories and images bring history to life!

Back to Glen Echo Park homepage

NOTE: The black and white photographs in this section are the Copyright © 1996 of Richard A Cook. Richard has a large collection of historic photographs of Glen Echo and he has generously given permission to the National Park Service to use some of the pictures for the sole purpose of promoting and publicizing Glen Echo Park on the WWW. Some have never been published before. Published in 2000. Glen Echo Park: A Story of Survival picture history book containing over 100 of these historic photographs on high quality glossy paper. For fuller details click here From Past to Present. For almost 100 years, the land on which the present Glen Echo Park sits has been dedicated to people. First, in 1891, as a National Chautauqua Assembly, a center where people could participate in the sciences, arts, languages, and literature. Then, until 1968, as a famous amusement park. Now, coming full circle, as a park emphasizing arts and cultural education for the community. In this latest incarnation, the land and the historical remnants of former buildings host a variety of activities for both the community and visitors. You can simply wander on the Midway and remember the sights and sounds of an old amusement park where you came as a child or adult to play miniature golf, see yourself distorted in the Hall of Mirrors, dance to the music of Glen Miller, sun on the sand beach of the Crystal Pool, or whack your bumper car into someone else's while sparks flew from the electrified ceiling. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and weekends during the summer you can still ride and listen to the tunes from the antique, hand-carved Dentzel Carousel, preserved through community effort. You can visit an art exhibit in the Old Stone Tower the only usable structure from the Chautauqua Assembly. During the warm months, Glen Echo is host to a number of festivals and special events, and between March and November you can dance the evening away in the Spanish Ballroom. Year-round theater performances, classes and workshops in dance, visual and performing arts, have brought Glen Echo Park full circle back to beginning as a Chautauqua site. Click on small pictures to see a larger version.
Edwin and Edward Baltzley	Edward Baltzley's house in Glen Echo Heights and the trolley	Chautauqua Hotel and Office ca 1896	The Chautauqa Amphitheater
First: The Chautauqua Assembly. It began when Edwin and Edward Baltzley conceived of promoting the sale of land and houses by establishing a Glen Echo Chautauqua "to promote liberal and practical education, especially among the masses of the people and to fit them for the duties which devolve upon them as members of society." The Chautauqua Movement was already popular and, financing their efforts with the profits from Edwin's inventions, the Baltzleys opened theirs in June, 1891. It was a success until Henry Spencer, operating the Spencerian Business School at the site, died of pneumonia. Rumors spread that he had died of malaria, and the rumors were enough to make people stop coming to this "Rhineland of the Potomac." That brief season was the only Chautauqua Assembly on the site. In the years that followed, from 1893 to 1898, the Baltzleys rented Glen Echo to different fundraising organizations which continued using the land for public shows and entertainment.			Chautauqua Tower and Fountain Chautauqua Tower ca 1896 Front of Park around turn of century
Then, An Amusement Park. In 1899 the Baltzleys rented Glen Echo to the Glen Echo Company, who put a full-fledged amusement park on the land. In 1911, Leonard Schloss was hired as General Manager and for the next 40 years he spent his life turning the site into the premier amusement park in the area. The famous Dentzel Carousel arrived in 1921, the Spanish Ballroom and the Crystal Pool in the 30s, along with latest in amusement rides. During World War ll, with limitations on travel and large numbers of service men and women in the area, Glen Echo Amusement Park had an unprecedented number of visitors, most traveling by trolley from Union Station or Georgetown along the C&O Canal. The park was always ahead of the times, and one of the most popular spots in Washington. The rides and the ballroom attracted thousands - the pool alone held 3000 people. But tastes changed and by the mid-sixties Glen Echo's heydays were over. Attendance dropped markedly and at the end of the 1968 season the owners announced the park would close. But the land was still there, occupied by remnants of the buildings which traced in their facades a history of architectural tastes.			Trolley Pass showing Crystal Pool - 1935 The park in 1968
Now: A Cultural Arts Park. Community action on the part of a group of public-spirited citizens helped to assure the future of Glen Echo Park. In 1971, through a land exchange with its owners, Glen Echo Park was acquired by the Federal government. Between the time the amusement park closed and the beginning of National Park Service management, many of the rides were sold including the historic Dentzel Carousel, brought to the park in 1921. A group of interested individuals organized a fundraising campaign to repurchase the Carousel, thus enabling it to be kept at the park for public enjoyment. Bringing the park into public ownership saved the land from possible development which could have adversely affected the natural beauty of the Potomac Palisades and the bordering C & O Canal National Historic Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway. Through consultation with educators, artists, community leaders, and special interest groups, an initial theme evolved - to use the land as a resource center, an educational and cultural forum where artists, students, teachers, and visitors could meet and exchange ideas, as well as learn from each other. It was not a new idea but a recycled one from the days when the park functioned as the Chautauqua Assembly. Once again, Glen Echo would be a learning center. Professionals in fields ranging from performing and visual arts to consumer-oriented topics were invited to move into the remaining buildings of the amusement park, repair and refurbish these structures and bring them back to life. In exchange, the groups agreed to open their facilities to the public with classes, as well as provide an assortment of free demonstrations and performances. Other artists came to teach in the multi-purpose classrooms, thus widening the scope of activities. With the addition of the summer Chautauqua Season and its several large festivals, weekend dances, and lectures for the public the park has continued to flourish.			The Carousel One of the Yurts that house artists - 1972 Spanish ballroom - 1997
Future: A Cooperative Effort. Drawing on its history and the enthusiastic interest shown in its cultural revitalization, the land and the structures of the park will be developed through cooperation of government and private sectors to advance opportunities for the public to enjoy its many resources Find out more: The 60-minute documentary film, "Glen Echo on the Potomac" by local film-maker Kevin Wyrauch is shown at 2:00pm every Saturday in the National Park Service office. The film traces the park's 106 year history, much of it told first hand by native Washingtonians. Stories and images bring history to life!