Like the Town of Somerset, the Town of Glen Echo has it own local government that provides municipal services for its residents. Residents of Glen Echo enjoy life on the Potomac River with miles of walking and biking trails at their fingertips. The Clara Barton Parkway which becomes Canal Road offers direct access to the Georgetown Waterfront and Downtown DC while both nearby Chain Bridge and Key Bridge offer easy access to Northern Virginia. The Town of Glen Echo also sits right off of I-495 making it one of the most convenient locations to all three jurisdictions in the DMV.
The land that would become the Town of Glen Echo was originally purchased in 1888 by brothers, Edwin and Edward Baltzley. The Town of Glen Echo was incorporated in 1904 and now consists of 100 homes, some dating back to as early as 1853. Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, was one of the town's most prominent early residents and the parkway running along the Potomac River and bordering the Town of Glen Echo bears her name. The Glen Echo Amusement Park was originally developed in 1891 as the Chautauqua Assembly which taught sciences, art, languages and literature before becoming the Washington DC area's premier amusement park from the early 1900s until it closed in 1968. In 2002, Montgomery County took over management of this historic site and today the park "is host to many resident arts and cultural organizations, artist studios, a thriving social dance program, a restored carousel, and numerous classes in visual and performing arts" according to its website.
Properties in Glen Echo date back to as early as 1853 and the community is also home to many original Sear & Roebucks bungalows. Given its long history, homes constructed in the area span many architectural areas and there is a fair amount of architectural variety, including some newly constructed homes in the 21st century with Colonial and Craftsman stylings.
Glen Echo Park, C & O Canal Trails
MacArthur Plaza, Potomac Farm Market, Palisades and Downtown Bethesda Restaurants and Retail
