Cycling Route in Four Corners, Maryland, United States of America

National Park Seminary Historic District

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8 km
Distance

92 m
Ascent

92 m
Descent

-:-- h
Duration

-- km/h
Avg. Speed

--- m
Max. Elevation

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About This Route

A route from Four Corners to National Park Seminary Historic District.

National Park Seminary (which is named for Rock Creek National Park) started out in 1887 as "Ye Forest Inne," a summer vacation retreat for Washington, D.C., residents. The retreat did not succeed financially, and the property was redeveloped as a finishing school, opening in 1894 with a class of 48 female students.

The campus was designed by architect Emily Elizabeth Holman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.. The architecture is eclectic and whimsical. In addition to various Victorian styles, exotic designs included a Dutch windmill, a Swiss chalet, a Japanese pagoda, an Italian villa, and an English castle.

In 1942, the property was acquired by Walter Reed Army Hospital as a medical facility for disabled soldiers. However, in the 1970s, funding for the property was cut and the buildings fell into disrepair. Many of the buildings were vandalized and the Greek Revival Odeon Theater was lost to arson in 1993. In 2003, a development team began implementing a plan to preserve the campus as the core of a new residential neighborhood, but their efforts so far seem to have been focused more on making money from condominium residents rather than repairing the historic buildings.

This cycling route is ideal for: City bike

You will cycle on the following surfaces: Paved

Ian Brett Cooper

uploaded 5 years ago

Highlights Along The Route

Point of Interest

Pagoda.

Point of Interest

Swiss Chalet.

Point of Interest

Amant Hall and Ballroom. Built in the 1920s, Ament Hall also contained art studios, dormitory suites, and apartments for some of the faculty. The high vaulted ceiling with heavy oak beams is in the English Gothic style, but the curved bays show the French influence. The girls were allowed to dance every day for a half hour after lunch and a half hour after dinner. There were also balls and special social events in the Ballroom. In general, males were excluded. A special sound system, an Auditoreum Victrola, provided the music. A gigantic speaker (perhaps the only one like it in the U.S.?) is still mounted in the room today.

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