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Built at the height of the Great Depression as an experiment in both physical and social planning, Greenbelt, Maryland was the brainstorm of economist and FDR adviser Rexford Tugwell. Designed to mimic the English garden cities of the 19th century, Greenbelt’s name mirrors the forest which surrounded it as well as the belts of green between residential areas. Greenbelt, along with sister cities in Ohio and Wisconsin, became the first federal attempt to plan and implement a city complete with businesses, schools, roads and facilities for recreation and government. With architecture constructed in the popular art deco style of the time, the city attempted to be a model for modern living. This attitude reflects not only the physical construction of the city but also the society which would reside there. Originally composed of 885 residences, citizens were chosen by application and included blue and white collar workers with a variety of religious allegiances. Because of the social segregation of the time, however, all were white. This group quickly established a city government with a city manager, police and fire, a newspaper and numerous other clubs and organizations. Today, the city has branched out from the original Greenbelt Historic District (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997) but much of the cooperative spirit which existed at the time of its creation in the 1930’s remains. Indeed, many of the art deco buildings still stand and the Greenbelt city website boasts that “around a dozen of the original families still live in the city.”

A Greenbelt tutor will keep you caught up on your studies so you can take time away from the books to experience the interesting things to do in Greenbelt and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Named after one of the first citizens of Greenbelt, Buddy Attick Lake Park includes a 23-acre lake and many other recreational opportunities. The park features dirt and stone paths around the lake as well as picnic pavilions, playgrounds, fishing and kayaking. Labeled an “Urban Oasis” Greenbelt Park at the southern edge of the city has 174 campground sites, over five miles of trails and several educational programs. For younger residents, Greenbelt has a state of the art skate park with 7,000 square feet of concrete complete with street and vertical jumps.

Greenbelt is home to the Goddard Space Flight Center which highlights NASA’s innovative work in earth science, astrophysics and planetary science. Visitors to the center will learn more about a variety of space related topics including the International Space Station and unmanned space probes to Mars. Image galleries offer historic photos from moon landings and other man space flights. Galleries also feature photographs from Mars and other parts of the solar system.

For more about the unique history of Greenbelt, the city’s museum tells the history of the first 75 years of the planned community. Located in a house built in 1937 the museum includes furniture designed by the Depression-era Resettlement Administration’s Special Skills Division. The house also features objects from everyday life in the 1930’s and during World War II. Walking tours take in the grounds of the house and the rest of the Greenbelt Historic District.