CELEBRATING ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST STREET CAR SUBURBS
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.
The Chevy Chase Historical Society Archive and Research Center is open to the public by appointment only. For more information, contact us at 301-656-6141 or info@chevychasehistory.org.
Watch our 2025 Fall Lecture “Separate and UNequal: History of School Segregation in Montgomery County"
In this presentation, historian Ralph Buglass uncovers Montgomery County's pivotal yet often overlooked role in the fight to end racially segregated schooling in America. Despite the stark inequalities that defined local education for nearly a century, the county became an unexpected touchstone in the struggle that helped lead to the Supreme Court's landmark decision to overturn segregation.
Watch our 2025 Spring Lecture “Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the Nation’s Capital”
In this presentation, Chickasaw scholar and activist Dr. Elizabeth Rule explores the often-overlooked histories of Native peoples in Washington, D.C. through her groundbreaking book Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the Nation’s Capital (2023). In this engaging presentation, Rule will highlight how D.C. has long served as the political capital of Indian Country—a place where Native peoples have resisted, thrived, and persevered despite centuries of displacement and oppression.
.png)
