Bethesda's Trolley Trail

Did you know that the Bethesda Trolley Trail connects Bethesda and Rockville for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians. It links North Bethesa/White Flint, the National Institutes of Health, the Woodmont Triangle, office towers in downtown Bethesa, and the Capital Crescent Trail.

The Bethesda trolley system has a long history. After the Civil War, American's cities needed new transportation systems to prosper and grow. First the major rail lines were built to connect American cities with one another. Then, smaller electric streetcar and trolley lines were built to connect Washingotn with its outlying areas. In 1890, the Georgetown and Tenallytown (the original spelling of Tenleytown) Railway Company operated trolley lines along Wisconsin between High Street in Georgetown and the DC line.

At about the same time, the Tenallytown and Rockville Railroad extended the line north to Bethesda at Alta Vista. At the end of the line, they built Bethesda Park, a Victorian era "trolley park" to encourage people to use the line on weekends and evenings. By the summer of 1893 it was a very popular amusement park, with roller coasters, a dance hall, and a hotel. In the fall of 1896 Bethesda park was destroyed by a hurricane, and the park closed, never to reopen.

In 1897 the two railroads merged and by 1900 they had extended all the way to Rockville. The Washington Railway and Electric Company acquired the merged railroads in 1902 and later became part of the Capital Transit. The Rockville trolley line ceased operation in 1935, leaving just gas powered buses as the only mass transit until the Metroline Red line opened in 1984.

Now the original trolley right of way lands are a much beloved Bethesda Trolley Trail. You should definately check it out!