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All the United States Maryland Silver Spring Acorn Park

Acorn Park

Giant acorn-shaped 19th century gazebo from which suburban Washingtonians gazed upon the original "silver" spring.

Silver Spring, Maryland

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sshistory
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Silver Spring, Maryland’s Acorn Park. Photograph Copyright 2005 by Jerry A. McCoy.  
Gazebo   Brandee Shafer
May 2023  
  Taterchips / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
Actual Silver Spring   Brandee Shafer
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
The Silver Spring  
Acorn Park  
Mural on the adjacent building.   hugh rand / Atlas Obscura User
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Marking the site of the original "silver" spring, after which Silver Spring, Maryland was named, this giant acorn-shaped gazebo and surrounding .12-acre park are all that remains of Silver Spring founder Francis Preston Blair, Sr.'s 1000-plus acre country estate and summer home, "Silver Spring."

The gazebo was constructed in the 1850s by Washington, DC builder Benjamin C. King at the bequest of Blair, who was editor of The Globe, an influential Washington newspaper. Blair was an adviser to 12 U.S. presidents, several of whom joined him under the gazebo to gaze upon the mica-flecked spring that Blair discovered while riding his horse Selim in 1840.

Arguably the only giant acorn-shaped gazebo in the world, you too can today sit under the acorn and think mighty thoughts!

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Architectural Oddities Follies And Grottoes Outsider Architecture Architecture

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Located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, one block west of East-West Highway where it intersects with Newell Street. Metered parking available on surrounding streets.

Community Contributors

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sshistory

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normalgirl, vmusso, hrnick, e1savage...

  • normalgirl
  • vmusso
  • hrnick
  • e1savage
  • Michael Busch
  • Taterchips
  • hugh rand

Published

June 24, 2009

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Sources
  • http://silverspringhistory.homestead.com/AcornPark50th.html
  • http://www.takoma.com/ssthenagain/2009/06/stereoscopic-silver-spring.html
  • http://brandeeshafer.blogspot.com/2013/11/you-could-be-my.html
Acorn Park
8060 Newell St
One block west of Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
United States
38.989596, -77.029028
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Nearby Places

Silver Spring B&O Railroad Station

Silver Spring, Maryland

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Silver Spring

Silver Spring

Maryland

Places 13
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Silver Spring B&O Railroad Station

Silver Spring, Maryland

miles away

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Silver Spring, Maryland

miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Silver Spring

Silver Spring

Maryland

Places 13
Stories 2

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