Special Event: Presentation on the Georgetown Branch at 12:30 (appropriate for ages 11 and up)

The 11.5 mile branch stretched from just west of Silver Spring, MD across Rock Creek, through Chevy Chase and Bethesda, and along the palisades of the Potomac river into Georgetown in DC. Trains operated from 1892 until 1985 and the line featured a long, tall trestle, a tunnel, and industrial street running. Industries served included cement plants, lumber yards, fuel dealers, three power plants and even a Frito factory. Ben Sullivan will share the colorful history of the line through rare photographs, historic maps, and key stories from its 93-year run.

Co-sponsors: Montgomery Preservation, Silver Spring Historical Society, & Bethesda Historical Society

Ongoing Activities

• Take a self-guided tour outside & inside the station.
• “Train Spot” under the canopy! See locomotives galore! Wave at the engineers!
• Indoors, enjoy the HO-scale model train display courtesy of the Rockville Model Railroad Society.
• Play with wooden toy train sets.
• Visit the station manager’s ticket office and 1945 telephone booth.
• See railroad photos & memorabilia, including the original B&O “Drumhead,” along with photos & memorabilia of the original Downtown Silver Spring.

This station is in the National Register of Historic Places, a Montgomery County Historic Site, and a gem in Silver Spring’s Arts & Entertainment District.

Please note that the number of parking spaces is limited. Additional parking is available one block away at county garage and lot #4, 8100 Fenton Street, with an additional entrance off of Sligo Avenue. Traffic and crosswalk lights facilitate crossing Georgia Avenue at Sligo Avenue in front of the station.

There is a special needs space and ramp at the station, along with an accessible entrance and restroom.

Find out more: rentals | station highlights | support the station maintenance fund | photos from past events