Spotlight: College Park
Take and enlightening trip just a stone’s throw from the capital
Just a short distance from Washington, D.C., the town of College Park is an ideal base of operation for visitors planning day trips into the nation’s capital. However, the city’s deep history and rich culture make it attractive in its own right.
College Park has deep roots in the development of American aviation. The Wright Brothers established an airfield here in 1909 to conduct flight tests and later to train army pilots. Today, the College Park Aviation Museum sits on the grounds of the airfield, now the world’s oldest continually operating airport.
The aviation museum provides hands-on learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. The airport runway is visible through the museum’s large windows, allowing guests to enjoy close-up views of takeoffs and landings.
Are you intrigued by the idea of well-organized clutter? Then a tour of the National Archives extension in College Park is informative and grand. Behind-the-scenes guided tours introduce guests to conservation laboratories and the technology that fuels the building’s massive mobile shelving system. It’s recommended that guests schedule tours in advance. The archives are open to the public for personal research and community programs, such as expert panel discussions and film screenings.
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School Days
College Park is also home to the University of Maryland, a thriving school that began as an agricultural college and helped fuel the growth of the city. The university is a member of the Big 10 Athletic Conference and hosts year-round events on its campus, many of which are open to the public.
Lovers of contemporary art will appreciate the gallery at the university, where the works of fledgling artists and their mid-career contemporaries are on display in 4,000 square feet of exhibit space. The university’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center—“The Clarice”—hosts dance, theater and music programs throughout the year.
The region’s natural beauty is the focus at Lake Artemesia Natural Area Park. The donated land was developed in the 1970s and 1980s, and today it’s home to a 38-acre lake, fishing pier and aquatic gardens as well as more than two miles of hiking/biking trails.