The Archive and Research Center is currently closed to the public.
To make a research appointment, please contact us at 301-656-6141 or info@chevychasehistory.org.
Welcome
In 1890, a new kind of neighborhood began to take shape on former farmland at the edge of Washington, D.C. The modern planned community of Chevy Chase, Maryland was designed to take advantage of a revolutionary mode of rapid transit: the streetcar. This electric-powered conveyance made commuting from a home in the country to work in the nation’s capital fast, easy and convenient. Residents of Chevy Chase enjoyed the best of both worlds – and they made the most of each!
Today’s residents and members of the Chevy Chase Historical Society protect and treasure the character of their community while they welcome the best aspects of the future. We welcome you to join us – and to explore our history.
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Register for the CCHS 2021 Fall Lecture On Wednesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m., historian Paige Glotzer will present the virtual 2021 Fall Lecture,"Suburban Developers and The Making of Urban Inequality." Glotzer is Assistant Professor and John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe Chair in the History of American Politics, Institutions, and Political Economy in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of History. Her award-winning book, "How the Suburbs Were Segregated: Developers and the Business of Exclusionary Housing, 1890-1960" was published in 2020. The lecture will describe how developers of planned suburbs from 1890-1960 shaped the mechanisms of a housing market in which racial exclusion and profit are intertwined. Chevy Chase opened as one of the nation’s first streetcar suburbs in 1892. The lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held via Zoom and you can register here. On the day of the lecture, those registered will be emailed the link to view the program, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. |
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In celebration of its 40th Anniversary, the Chevy Chase Historical Society hosted its first-ever virtual Spring Gala, Party on the Porch, on
May 20, 2021. The event celebrated the porch, a prominent and beloved feature of so many Chevy Chase homes. Doug Kammerer, News4’s Chief Meteorologist and Chevy Chase resident, joined the fun as our neighborhood host. Architectural Historian Sandy Heiler led a virtual tour through the surprising history of the porch. Chevy Chase designers Katy Anderson, Sarah Hayes, and Deborah Scheck demonstrated ideas for hosting a party on your porch.
Watch the Party on the Porch celebration below!
Corona Chronicles
The Chevy Chase Historical Society is documenting the history Chevy Chase residents are all making as we manage life during COVID-19. Add your story to the CCHS Corona Chronicles!
We are collecting photos, videos, journal and diary entries, voice and audio recordings and other digital evidence of life in our community during this unprecedented time. Tell us about how you are coping, what you are thankful for, and the “silver linings” you’ve discovered. Write to us about your experiences working from home, social distancing, attending school remotely, and more.
Share your story using this form.
To use our form, you will need a Google account. If you do not have one, email your materials to CoronaChronicles@chevychasehistory.org.
Your stories will become part of the broader history of Chevy Chase during this challenging time, and a resource for future historians. CCHS will feature select submissions in occasional emails and on social media. Sign up for our email list and follow us on Facebook to see these submissions.
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CCHS 2021 Spring Lecture now available William Rowley, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Nevada-Reno reviews the life of Francis G. Newlands, a US Congressman and Senator from Nevada and a visionary real estate developer in the late 19th century. Though progressive on most issues, Newlands also held and espoused racist views and beliefs that we find repugnant today. Professor Rowley describes both the accomplishments and the disturbing racism reflected in Newlands’ complex life in the CCHS 2021 Spring Lecture, “A Closer Look at Chevy Chase Founder Francis Newlands.” |
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