George Washington Memorial Parkway is in northeast Virginia and south-central Maryland. Portions of the scenic drive pass through Washington, D.C. The segment described here is north of the District of Columbia; see Virginia for the other segment. The byway follows a four-lane divided highway named Clara Barton Parkway. Its short–six miles long–and remains open year-round.
The George Washington Memorial Parkway preserves the natural scenery along the Potomac River, connecting historic sites from Mount Vernon, past the Nation’s Capital, to the Great Falls of the Potomac. The many historic sites are complemented by the scenic countryside. The banks of the Potomac River are covered with willows, elders, and birches. Autumn brings vibrant colors to the parkway as the red maples, oaks, sumacs, and hickories proudly display their autumn attire. It is not unusual to see white-tailed deer, raccoon, wild turkey, and opossum in the area.
The Clara Barton National Historic Site was the home of American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, from 1897 to 1904. The 38-room house was designed by Clara and was first used as a Red Cross warehouse. Over 30 large closets in the building were used for storage of relief supplies. It was later modified for living quarters and offices in 1897. The building is furnished with original and period artifacts that provide interesting insights into the character of Clara Barton and the American Red Cross. Guided tours are given daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Glen Echo Park is located adjacent to the Clara Barton National Historic Site. Glen Echo is now an arts and cultural center where classes are taught year-round by well-known artists and professionals. It was once an amusement park that served the Washington area until 1967. An antique, hand-carved and hand-painted Dentzel Carousel operates on summer weekends. The gallery offers monthly exhibitions of Glen Echo’s artists.