Take Public Transportation to Historic Sites, Museums, & Galleries in Maryland

Beall-Dawson House & Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine | Clara Barton National Historic Site | College Park Aviation Museum | Darnall's Chance | Dorsey Chapel | George Meany Memorial Archives | Glen Echo Park & Dentzel Carousel | Goddard Space Flight Center | Laurel Museum | Marietta House Museum | McCrillis Gallery | Montpelier Mansion | National Capital Trolley Museum | Northampton Slave Quarters Archaeological Site | Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum | Riversdale | Sandy Spring Museum | Surratt House Museum | Weiner Judaic Museum

Beall-Dawson House & Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine

Montgomery County Historical Society
111 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
301-762-1492

The Beall-Dawson House was built in 1815 for Upton Beall, Clerk of the Court for Montgomery County and a man of means in county society. The house was built overlooking one of the main roads into town and would certainly have been an impressive sight at the time. Rockville, while a crossroads, was still a rural town with only 200 residents and 35 houses. The Beall-Dawson House, larger and more impressive than other houses in town, was also built of brick, a rarity indeed! The house was built in the Federal style which was popular in Georgetown where Upton Beall was raised. Jane Robb Beall, Mr. Beall's wife, was daughter of one of Rockville's tavern owners. They had three daughters, Jane, Mathilda and Margaret. This is also the location of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

The Stonestreet Medical Museum was built as a doctor's office in 1852 for Dr. Edward Elijah Stonestreet. It originally stood in front of the Stonestreet home at Montgomery Avenue and Monroe Street, near where Richard Montgomery High School stands today. The building was moved to the grounds of the Montgomery County Historical Society in 1972. This unusual museum has exhibits on 19th century medicine and the life of a country doctor. From 1852 to 1903, Dr. Stonestreet practiced medicine using this building as his home office and making house calls during the middle of the day.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Rockville station, exit the station and take Ride-On Bus 54 toward Lakeforest Mall, or Ride-On Bus 63 toward Shady Grove Station, or Metrobus T2 toward Friendship Heights. All three buses stop at the intersection of West Jefferson Street and South Adams Street. Walk one block north on South Adams Street to Montgomery Avenue. Turn left and walk one block west on Montgomery Avenue.

Clara Barton National Historic Site

5801 Oxford Road, Glen Echo, MD
(301) 492-6245

Clara Barton National Historic Site commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The house in Glen Echo served as her home, headquarters for the American Red Cross and a warehouse for disaster relief supplies. From this house, she organized and directed American Red Cross relief efforts for victims of natural disasters and war. Clara Barton National Historic Site was established in the National Park Service in 1975 and is administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Visitor information.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Bethesda station, exit the station and take Ride-On Bus 29 toward Friendship Heights Metro to the stop at Goldsboro Road & MacArthur Boulevard. Walk one block northwest on MacArthur Boulevard, turn left on Oxford Road and walk one block southwest.

College Park Aviation Museum

1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD 20740
(301) 864-6029

The College Park Aviation Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is located on the grounds of the world's oldest continuously operating airport in College Park, MD. Visitors to the museum step into an open 1 1/2 story exhibit space, which highlights the display of unique aircraft and tells the story of flight from the Wright Brothers to today. The museum gallery contains historic and reproduction aircraft associated with the history of the airfield, as well as hands-on activities and experimentation areas for children of all ages. Changing exhibits and new programs every month keep visitors coming back to this fascinating place. Hours and fees.

Take Metrorail's Green Line to College Park-U of MD station, exit the station and walk a short distance north on Paint Branch Parkway, continuing walking approximately 2 blocks north on Corporal Frank Scott Drive.

Darnall's Chance

14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD
(301) 952-8010; TTY (301) 699-2544

Darnall's Chance, the oldest house in Upper Marlboro, was built circa 1704 and served as the residence of notable Marylanders Colonel Henry Darnall and his great-grandsons, Archbishop John Carroll and Daniel Carroll II. The home was remodeled in 1858, and restored in 1988. An unusual 18th century burial vault is located on the grounds. This 1&-story historic house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitor information.

Take Metrorail's Orange Line to New Carrollton station, exit the station and take The BUS 21 toward Upper Marlboro to the stop at New Courthouse Main Entrance. Walk 1 block southwest on Main Street, turn right on Elm Street, walk 1 block north on Elm Street, turn right on Governor Oden Bowie Drive and walk 2 blocks north.

Dorsey Chapel

10704 Brookland Road
Glenn Dale, MD 20769
(301) 352-5544; TTY (301) 699-2544

Dorsey Chapel is a small, frame meetinghouse-style church which served as the spiritual and social center of the rural African American community of Brookland at the turn of the 20th century. Construction of the chapel was completed in 1900; it was named after its first minister, the Reverend A.B. Dorsey. A small, active congregation occupied the chapel from 1900 to 1971. In 1971, the congregation from Dorsey Chapel merged with the congregation from Perkins Chapel to form the Glenn Dale United Methodist Church and Dorsey Chapel was no longer used. Initially scheduled for demolition in 1980, the Friends of Dorsey Chapel organized efforts to preserve and restore the church. Dorsey Chapel was ultimately designated a Prince George's County "historic site" by the Historic Preservation Commission. Restoration of the chapel was undertaken by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1994, and the facility was re-dedicated and opened to the public in 1996. Visitor information.

Take Metrorail's Orange Line to New Carrollton station, exit the station and take the Metrobus B27 toward Bowie State University to the stop at Lanham-Severn Road & Greenbelt Road. Walk 2 blocks northwest on Greenbelt Road, turn right on Northern Avenue, and walk 4 blocks north.

George Meany Memorial Archives

10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
(301) 431-5451

The George Meany Memorial Archives preserves the historical records of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and avails them for research. Museum features permanent and changing exhibits documenting worklife and the history of labor. Visitor information.

Take Metrorail's Green Line to College Park/U of MD station, exit the station and take Metrobus C8 toward White Flint Station to the stop at New Hampshire Avenue & Elton Road.

Glen Echo Park & Dentzel Carousel

MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD

Glen Echo Park began in 1891 as a National Chautauqua Assembly "to promote liberal and practical education, especially among the masses of the people; to teach the sciences, arts, languages, and literature; to prepare its patrons for their several pursuits and professions in life; and to fit them for the duties which devolve upon them as members of society." By 1900, Glen Echo was on its way to becoming a premier amusement park, and it served the Washington area as such until 1968. Today the park has come full circle, the land and the historic buildings a back drop for a rich arts education program. There are concerts, demonstrations, workshops, and festivals during the warm months as a part of the Chautauqua Summer season. The Gallery and Bookshop feature park artists in the exhibits. Glen Echo Park presents special ranger-led programs and tours throughout the year. Visitor information.

The Glen Echo carousel was manufactured by one of the country's foremost carousel builders, the Dentzel Carousel Company. In 1860, young Gustav Dentzel, son of a carousel maker in Germany, came to the United States and founded his company in Philadelphia. His son, William Dentzel, carried on the family business until 1929. Dentzel carousels were known for their realistic, graceful animals and elaborate carvings. Carousels of this style were usually housed in specially built pavilions in beautiful park settings, often at the end of a trolley line, as was Glen Echo. This Dentzel was installed in a 12-sided canopy building in 1921. The Glen Echo carousel is an electric-powered platform model; the animals ride on a suspended floor. The platform, about 48 feet in diameter, tilts slightly inward, like a curve on a highway. It turns counter-clockwise, making about five revolutions a minute.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Friendship Heights station, exit the station and take Ride-On Bus 29 toward Bethesda Metro to the stop at Goldsboro Road & MacArthur Boulevard.

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Visitor Center: (301) 286-9041

Since its inception in 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center has been at the forefront of Space and Earth science. The Center was named after Dr. Robert H. Goddard who is considered “The Father of American Rocketry.” Goddard’s fundamental mission is to expand our knowledge of the Earth and its environment, the Solar System and the universe through observations from Space. Goddard Space Flight Center is home to the largest collection of scientists and engineers dedicated to exploring Earth from space that can be found anywhere in the world. The Visitor Center offers exhibits, tours, Interactive presentations and programs about Earth and Space Science and how it effects our lives.

Take Metrorail's Orange Line to New Carrollton station or the Green Line to Greenbelt Station. From either station take Metrobus T16 or T17 or The BUS 15 to the NASA Visitors Center..

Laurel Museum

817 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707
(301) 725-7975

Located in a former 1840's mill workers' home, the Laurel Museum houses collections of books, photographs, tools, personal artifacts, textiles and oral histories. The 2,590 square foot brick and stone building was erected in the early 1840's by mill owners to house their employees. Originally four living units, over the years it was modified into a two-family house. Visitors may notice a resemblance to several homes next-door to the museum along Main Street. These were also homes to multiple families whose livelihood depended on the mill, which was torn down in the 1930's. They have long since been turned into private apartments and residences but the exterior architecture is unmistakable. In 1985 the building was purchased by the City of Laurel from the State of Maryland. Between 1993-1996 it was renovated into its new role as a city museum. Hours.

Take Metrorail's Green Line to Greenbelt Station, exit the station and take Metrobus 87 toward Laurel to the stop at Montgomery and 9th Streets. Walk 2 blocks north on 9th Street, turn right on Main Street and walk less than a block to the museum.

Marietta House Museum

5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD 20769
(301) 464-5291; TTY 301-277-8456

Marietta, the Federal style brick home of Gabriel Duvall, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built ca. 1813, Marietta remained under ownership of the Duvall family until 1902. Marietta operates as an historic house museum and is furnished and interpreted to reflect the three generations of Duvall's that occupied the house. Open for walk-in tours, Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays, 12 to 4 p.m. Admission $3 adults; $2 seniors; $1 students ages 5 - 18 years. Group tours by appointment. Take Metrorail's Orange Line to the New Carrollton station, exit the station and take the B24 Metrobus toward Bowie Fringe Parking Lot to the stop at Annapolis Road & Enterprise Road. Walk 4 blocks northeast on Annapolis Road, turn left on Bell Station Road and walk 1 block west.

McCrillis Gallery

6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD
(301) 962-1401

McCrillis Gallery provides an intimate setting for displays by art groups from the Washington area. Staffed by volunteers, the Gallery is located on the first floor of the former McCrillis residence. Regularly changing exhibits feature artwork in a variety of media styles. McCrillis Gardens was donated to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1978 by its owners, William and Virginia McCrillis. Managed by Brookside Gardens, the Gardens have been refined as a premier shade garden. Choice ornamental trees and shrubs extend the flowering season while bulbs, groundcovers and shade-loving perennials add ongoing color and texture. A pavilion and benches provide restful vantage points. Hours: Gardens, daily, 10 a.m. to sunset. Gallery: Call for hours and current show information, (301) 365-1657, gallery office. Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Bethesda station, exit the station and take the RO36 Ride-On bus toward Connelly School/Bradley Blvd. to the stop at Bradley Boulevard & Burdette Road. Walk 2 blocks northeast on Burdette Road, turn left on Greentree Road and walk 1 block northwest.

Montpelier Mansion

9401 Montpelier Drive
Laurel, MD 20708
(301) 953-1376; TTY 301-779-5321

A fine example of Georgian architecture, popular in Maryland in the late 1700's, Montpelier Mansion sits on approximately 70 acres of beautiful parkland. Architectural and building construction details, as well as historical research, suggest that the house was constructed between 1781 and 1785. Major Thomas Snowden and his wife Anne, original owners of Montpelier Mansion, welcomed many distinguished guests into their home including George Washington and Abigail Adams. Throughout the years, the estate changed ownership several times and new facilities were constructed. In the early 1900's, the kitchen and servants' quarters extension off the south wing were added, as was the seven-stall garage, known as the carriage house. A boxwood-lined pathway runs through the garden to the original 18th century summer house. Montpelier Mansion, a National Historic Landmark, is operated as a house museum and rental facility. Select rooms have been researched and furnished as they would have appeared from the end of the 18th century until 1830. Guided tours are offered on the hour, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 3:15 p.m. every hour at 15 minutes past the hour. Admission is $3 adults; $2 seniors; and $1 children. Take Metrorail's Green Line to the Greenbelt Station, exit the station and take the 87 Metrobus toward Laurel via the BW Parkway to the stop at Laurel-Bowie Road & Brock Bridge Road. Walk 1 block north on Laurel-Bowie Road, turn left on Montpelier Drive and walk 3 blocks southwest.

National Capital Trolley Museum

1313 Bonifant Road, Silver Spring, MD
(301)384-6088

The National Capital Trolley Museum was founded in 1959 after the abandonment of streetcar service in the District of Columbia had become a certainty. The Museum opened to the public in 1969 at its present location in Northwest Branch Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Museum's mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Washington's electric street railways. The Museum holds its collections in trust for the public and is accountable to the public it serves. The collections consist of 17 streetcars from Washington D.C. and other cities. Many of these are operated on a one-mile demonstration railway. In addition, there is an O-scale model layout representing a Washington streetscape from the 1930's, a film program, and traditional exhibits of street railway artifacts and photographs. March 15 through May 15, Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; June 15 through August 15, Thursday & Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; October 1 through November 15, Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Open Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day 12 to 5 p.m. Admission charged for trolley ride only. Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Twinbrook station, exit the station and take the RO26 Ride-On bus toward Glenmont Metro to the stop at the Museum. Ride-On Bus Route 26 offers connecting service between the Museum and the Twinbrook Metro Station on Saturdays & Sundays (non-holiday) and on the following three holidays only: Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Service departs Twinbrook every half hour.

Northampton Slave Quarters Archaeological Site

Lake Overlook Drive, Lake Arbor, MD 20721
(301) 218-9637 (Archaeology Program)
(301) 454-1780 (Black History Program)

Historians and archaeologists are working together to reconstruct the lives of the many slaves and tenant farmers who lived at Northampton Plantation. Detailed information about the life of one slave, Elizabeth Hawkins, was obtained from descendants who live in the area and are active participants in the research and excavations relating to this site. For nearly three centuries Northampton was a tobacco plantation which also produced other crops. Today the physical remains of the plantation include the ruins of the manor house, its outbuildings and roads, and the remains of two slave quarters. The latter are the focus of current archaeological excavations and historical research. Excavations continue at the frame dwelling, while the foundation and partial walls of the brick quarters have been reconstructed. Northampton is located at the Northlake residential development in Lake Arbor, in a community park on Lake Overlook Drive between Water Port Court and Lake Overlook Place. Interpretive signage guides visitors on a tour of this unique site. Contact staff at the appropriate number above for additional information about this site. Take Metrorail's Blue Line to the Addison Road station, exit the station and take the C26 Metrobus toward East Kettering to the stop at Lake Arbor Way & Winged Foot Drive. Walk 1 block northwest on Lake Arbor Way, turn left on Lake Overlook Drive and walk 1 block southwest.

Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum

10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 897-1518

The Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum has been established with one purpose in mind: to foster love of the Bible through the graphic arts. The Museum is a walk through the Hebrew Bible via visual arts. The Museum is a non-profit foundation open to the public that hopefully will serve as a prototype for other communities globally. Open to the Public - Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No admission charge. Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Bethesda station, exit the station and take either the J2 or J3 Metrobus bus toward Montgomery Mall to the stop at Old Georgetown Road & Lone Oak Drive, and walk 1 block northwest on Old Georgetown Road.

Riversdale

4811 Riverdale Road
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
(301) 864-0420; TTY (301) 699-2544

Riversdale, a National Historic Landmark, is a restored, five-part, stucco-covered brick plantation home, built between 1801 and 1807. Construction of this elegant manor house was begun for Henri Stier, a Flemish aristocrat, and was completed by his daughter Rosalie and her husband George Calvert, grandson of the fifth Lord Baltimore. The mansion blends both Flemish and American architectural styles and has particularly fine interior plaster detail. It was inhabited by numerous nationally significant figures. Open Sunday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Admission $3 adults; $2 seniors; and $1 students. Weekday group tours available by appointment. The Riversdale Historical Society, a volunteer organization, works with staff from The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to preserve the cultural heritage of Riversdale, and maintain the mansion as an historic house. Take Metrorail's Green Line to the Prince Georges Plaza station, exit the station and take the F4 Metrobus toward New Carrollton to the stop at Riverdale Road & 48th Avenue. Or take Metrorail's Orange Line to the New Carrollton station, exit the station and take the F4 Metrobus toward Silver Spring to the stop at Riverdale Road & 48th Avenue..

Washington, D.C. Metrorail System Map

Sandy Spring Museum

17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, MD
(301) 774-0022

The Sandy Spring Museum offers a unique insight into the history of the small community of Sandy Spring, the facility also offers interesting exhibits on town residents and their achievements in the fields of abolitionism, invention, the arts and the development of the Maryland State Police which originated locally. Changing artist exhibits. Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Donation requested: $3 adults. Children free. Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Silver Spring station, exit the station and take the Z2 Metrobus toward Olney to the stop at Olney-Sandy Spring Road & Bentley Road. Walk 6 blocks north on Bentley Road.

Surratt House Museum

9110 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735
(301) 868-1121

This historic house museum, built in 1852 as a middle-class farm house for the family of John and Mary Surratt, also served as a tavern and hostelry, a post office, and a polling place before the Civil War. During the war, it became a safehouse in the Confederate underground system that flourished in southern Maryland. In 1864, the Surratt family became entangled in a plot by John Wilkes Booth to kidnap President Abraham Lincoln. Booth, instead, assassinated the President in 1865. While fleeing the area, Booth stopped at the tavern to retrieve weapons and supplies he had hidden here. Consequently, Mary Surratt was tried in a military court and convicted of conspiracy to assassinate the President. On July 7, 1865, she became the first woman executed by the federal government. Enjoy a guided tour of the museum conducted by a costumed docent, or stop by for the special events and exhibits at this historic site. Reserve your space for the John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Tour, a 12-hour bus trip covering the assassin's trail. The Surratt House Museum site has been restored to its original form and offers a variety of programs that recapture mid-19th century life. This site is open year-round, except for holidays. Public tour hours are Thursdays and Fridays - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays - noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for senior citizens and groups of ten or more adults, and $1.00 for children ages 5 to 18. Take Metrorail's Green Line to the Branch Avenue station, exit the station and take the BUS30 TheBUS toward Southern Maryland Medical Ctr. to the stop at Piscataway Road & Old Branch Avenue (Woodyard Road & Brandywine Road), walk south to 9110 Brandywine Road..

Weiner Judaic Museum

Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD
(301) 881-0100

Vast collection of archaeological artifacts from the Middle East, antique and contemporary Judaica and fine arts. Part of the Gildenhorn/Speisman Center for the Arts (GSCA) at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, open Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed all Jewish Holidays. Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Twinbrook station, exit the station and take either the RO5 Ride-On bus toward Silver Spring, or the RO26 Ride-On bus toward Montgomery Mall, to the stop at East Jefferson Street & Montrose Road. Walk 3 blocks east on Montrose Road.