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 2026 Spring Lecture “Becoming Americans: 1774"

In this presentation, highlighting Montgomery County's earliest voices, historian Sandra Heiler brings to life the events of June 11, 1774. On this day, ten local citizens gathered in what would later become Rockville, Maryland to adopt the Hungerford Resolves, a daring declaration that aligned their community with the growing colonial resistance movement. In her illustrated lecture, Heiler explores how these agreements marked a profound shift in identity, as colonists began to see themselves not merely as British subjects, but as Americans. She traces the political tensions that shaped the Resolves, highlights their key provisions, and considers their broader impact on the unfolding story of the American Revolution.