Historic Takoma -- Education & Outreach

Walking Tours April 16 & 17.

Historic Takoma is offering two free walking tours this weekend. On Saturday, April 16, Diana Kohn will lead a walking tour of Old Takoma. Explore the Maryland and DC sides of the original railroad suburb founded by B.F. Gilbert. Meet at the Takoma metro at 1 p.m. The tour is free as part of the DC Tourism Coalition's "Walkingtown DC" celebration that includes more than 50 free walking tours around the DC area. Check www.walkingtowndc.org for more details.

On Sunday, April 17, Clair Garman will lead a second free tour, "Walk the Dinky Line Trolley Route." Trace the long-vanished trolley car "Dinky Line" route from Carroll Avenue to the banks of Sligo Creek, where 100 years ago families came to Wildwood Resort to boat, swim, and dance. See the ruins of the 1830s Sligo Mill and Takoma's first waterworks, and hear the tale of gamblers and a gun-toting sheriff that brought Wildwood's days to an end. Meet 1 p.m. at the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Coop, corner of Carroll Avenue and Ethan Allan Avenue (Rt. 410).

Education & Outreach

The goal of the HTI Education Committee is to introduce adults and children alike to the history of Takoma Park - the stories of the people who settled here and how they created the community we inherit today. By sharing that history, we hope to encourage others to join our efforts to preserve the past (buildings as well as recollected memories) and shape future development. As this page grows we will be adding more information and links about all of these projects and many more.

For more information about any of these activities or to volunteer, please contact Diana Kohn, Chair of the Education Committee at educationE-MAIL DISABLED DUE TO SPAM--PLEASE USE getinfo at historictakoma.org or by leaving a message for her at 301-270-2831. We are especially in need of volunteers for running tours or organization other educational events.

Over the last several years, we have sponsored the following projects:

Tour Brochures. Two self-guided walking tours are available, one describing the landmarks on the Maryland side, the other focusing on the Takoma DC side. Both tour brochures are available by contacting us and will be posted here soon.

     Dinky Line Trolley Tour. Several times a year, Clair Garman offers a guided walking tour tracing the route of the trolleycar line that once ran from the corner of Carroll and Ethan Allen to the site of Wildwood, a turn-of-the-century resort, which once stood on he banks of Sligo Creek. A Spring 2002 tour schedule will be posted here soon. Read the Takoma Voice article about the Dinky Line Tour.

     Student Walking Tours. Each year since 1998, HTI has conducted walking tours for all fourth graders at Piney Branch Elementary (more than 200 students annually). They explore the city to compare housing styles, stand on the boundary line between the DC and Maryland, visit the Carriage House on the oldest property inside Takoma Park, and trace the economic development.

     Thanks to a $5000 community development block grant and a wonderful volunteer effort, much of this information has been pulled together into "The Kids' A to Z Guide To Takoma Park." Copies are available to the fourth grade classes and at area libraries. Using photographs from across the century, the book takes children (and adults) on an alphabetical tour of the development of Takoma Park. Read the Takoma Gazette article about the book at: "Guide to Takoma Park will teach history to kids."