A Vision for the Future
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
- Rachel Carson, “Help your child to wonder,” Woman's Home Companion, 1956
World-renowned writer, scientist, and considered by many as the "Mother of the Modern Environmental Movement," Rachel Carson lived in Silver Spring, MD from 1937 until her death in 1964.*
It was here, steps from the banks of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, that Carson penned her most critical work, Silent Spring. Carson's last house, where she lived from 1957-1964, is a National Historic Landmark and is the headquarters of the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance. While Montgomery County has named a portion of the NW Branch Trail and a gorgeous 650-acre park in Brookeville in Carson's honor, no place consistently open to the public exists with the explicit intention to share Carson's story and message.
Through the adaptive reuse of the Burnt Mills East historic building that will include a beautiful modern addition that complements the natural landscape, we will transform this space into a welcoming museum where children and adults, locals and tourists alike, can explore Carson’s sense of wonder, respect for scientific rigor, and courageous advocacy for a healthier environment.
*From 1943-1945 Carson lived in Takoma Park, Maryland, a stone's throw from Silver Spring. Before moving to Silver Spring, Carson lived in Baltimore, Maryland from 1929-1937.
PROJECT UPDATE
(SPRING 2024)
After receiving a strong Letter of Intent signaling Montgomery Parks’ goal to work towards a long-term lease agreement with Springsong, our design team and management have been meeting with Parks staff to further develop project details and ready the museum for Planning Board approval and the issuance of necessary permits.
The projected cost for the museum is $9M. We are grateful to have been awarded $1.25M from the State of Maryland to start us on our capital campaign journey!
Springsong has been endorsed by: U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, State Senator Will Smith, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass, District 5 County Councilmember Kristin Mink, and At-Large County Councilmembers Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz, and Laurie-Anne Sayles.
A Lasting Legacy
The property, a block from the county’s first Bus Rapid Transit line, is situated along the 25-mile Northwest Branch Trail in an area that is itself a natural wonder. Along the “Fall Zone,” where the Piedmont Plateau meets the Coastal Plain and water continues to define its path over metamorphic boulders, there could hardly be a better location that offers both accessibility and interaction with the dynamic natural beauty that Carson so loved.
As Rachel Carson's work centered on connections between living things and their environment, the museum will also connect visitors to the history of the land through the diverse communities that have lived here, including the Nacotchtank/Anacostan peoples, mill owners and workers, and the Black community of Stewart Lane Chapel/Burnt Mills. With free admission and an interpretive framework centered on accessibility and a bridging of science, nature, literature, and art, this Silver Spring landmark will be a creative, transformative gathering place for all.
Renderings by our design teams are preliminary plans.
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Property Plans
Extensive native gardens along the perimeter of the parking lot and around the building, with wheelchair-accessible pathways. and interpretation conveying the importance of each plant to our local ecosystem.
Small outbuilding repurposed for outdoor education use
A wheelchair-accessible overlook near the building along the 'torrent and gorge' section of the NW Branch of the Anacostia River, allowing for all visitors to safely experience the beauty and dynamism of the natural features of the Fall Zone and also providing a potential space for small private ceremonies.
Picnic tables and other places for visitors to sit and relax
Museum Features
Partnerships with local public and independent schools, aligned with current science curricula, including field trips to the museum
Resources for Child-Adult exploration on-site and beyond, influenced by Carson's philosophy on the importance of such a relationship.
An exploration of the site’s pre-colonial history, including its connection with the Nacotchtank people.
A launching point for ecologically-interpreted access to the NW Branch trails, for children & adults, with signage in English, Spanish, and Amharic. Visitors could hike along the ‘torrent and gorge’ area just downstream from the building or head upstream for a 5 mile hike that would take them to one of the houses where Carson lived.
A wheelchair-accessible observation deck to ensure that everyone can experience the dynamic beauty that this section of the NW Branch has to offer.
Future Plans
An exhibit featuring local unsung nature heroes, as determined by visitors and online submissions and support.
A formal relationship with a local independent bookshop, providing museum visitors book-shopping opportunities and offering the retailer a beautiful venue for book launches and other author events.
An annual International Literary Speakers Series (recognizing that Carson is revered-- as much or more abroad than in the U.S.-- for her beautiful and visionary writing).
Support for a county project to build a pedestrian/bike bridge to ensure safe passage across Colesville Rd./Rte 29 (or alternatively, a tunnel under the NWB bridge allowing for continuity of the NWB trail and safer crossing for wildlife).
An exploration of the site’s pre-colonial history, including its connection with the Nacotchtank people.
A launching point for ecologically-interpreted access to the NW Branch trails, for children & adults, with signage in English, Spanish, and Amharic.
Visitors could hike along the ‘torrent and gorge’ area just downstream from the building or head upstream for a 5 mile hike that would take them to one of the houses where Carson lived.
An indoor/outdoor program showcasing local art and artists.