10 Things About Bethesda, Maryland (Montgomery County)
Dedicated Bike and Running Trail - Capital Crescent Trail, more popularly known as The Trail, is a shared off-road trail from Bethesda to Georgetown that is designed to accommodate joggers, walkers, cyclists, and rollerbladers. The 7-mile flat asphalt was developed in 1986 and built upon a former 11-mile railbed of B&O Railroad’s Georgetown Branch. Capital Crescent Trail is considered one of the most heavily used trails in the country.
Center of Civil War Medicine History - The National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM) in Bethesda was formerly known as the Army Medical Museum during the Civil War era. It initially functioned as the center for research in general medicine, medical treatments, infectious diseases, and all medical conditions related to war. The institution received its current name in 1989. Today, NMHM displays various exhibitions that feature advancements and innovations in military medicine, most especially Civil War medicine.
The History of Entertainment at Glen Echo Park - Opened in 1891 on 9.3 acres of land, Glen Echo Park featured two children’s theatres, an aquarium, art studios, and galleries. With dwindling attendance and a change in public recreational interests, Glen Echo Park closed in 1968. In 1984, the National Register of Historic Places included Glen Echo Park on its list. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction in Bethesda due to its fun-filled environment. Visitors can take classes in dance, fused glass artistry, dance, silversmithing, poetry, music, painting, and more.
City of Many Opportunities - Bethesda offers many high-quality jobs in vital economic sectors. The city is considered an economic powerhouse of Montgomery County. As of 2021, Bethesda reported a 5.6% unemployment rate, significantly lower than the national average. It is an exciting city to build and grow a business due to its strategic location, excellent infrastructure, and highly educated population. Some of the biggest companies headquartered in Bethesda include Lockheed Martin, Marriott International, Department of Defense, John Hopkins Hospital, National Institutes of Health, and Coventry Health Care, to name a few.
World-Class Art and Music Destination - Strathmore is considered a cultural and artistic venue and an esteemed institution in Bethesda, Maryland. It consists of two venues, namely the Mansion and the Music Center. At present, it is one of the finest centers for culture, arts, and education. Strathmore holds hundreds of performances from equally respected institutions, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Strathmore Hall Foundation, Levine Music, City Dance, National Philharmonic, etc.
Most Extensive Collection of Video Game Coins - Bethesda resident Wade Speaks holds the Guinness World Records title for having the most extensive collection of video game coins in 2019. According to official records, Wade has a total of 1,019 coins. Wade started his video game coin collection in 2013 to promote awareness of the video game coin-collecting community.
A Stone’s Throw Away from the FDA - The Food and Drug Administration headquarters is located just a few miles away from Bethesda. The agency is open to the general public, making it an excellent venue for learning more about consumer safety and world-class quality control. Visitors from out of town usually take a quick trip to the FDA headquarters in Silver Spring.
National Institutes of Health Headquarters - The country’s premier biomedical research facility, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is headquartered in Bethesda. The esteemed organization is known for its versatile clinical research environment, enabling more than 6,000 scientists and more than 14,000 contractors to improve human health and wellness through breakthrough research and clinical trials. NIH specializes in detecting and treating rare diseases and diseases of high public impact. The Bethesda campus covers more than 12 million square feet of facilities, making it the largest dedicated research hospital in the world.
Largest Medical Library - The National Library of Medicine (NLM), located in the National Institutes of Health headquarters in Bethesda, is the most extensive biomedical library globally. It has more than seven million items in its collection, including reports, manuscripts, journals, books, photographs, and many more. The NLM is a premier provider of research and information services in medical science, health care, public health, and medical technology. It is the leading research facility for clinicians, researchers, and the general public as it offers a vast wealth of biomedical data used to improve health and wellness.
The Fastest 1,500m Freestyle Swimmer is a Bethesda Local - Bethesda local Katie Ledecky made history as she broke the Olympic record for the 1500m freestyle while competing at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. In her category, the five-time gold medalist finished the 1500m race in 15:35.35 in her class. While Ledecky is enrolled in Stanford, she goes back to her native Bethesda several times a year to connect with her family and friends. The Olympian has attributed her achievements to the positive atmosphere and above-average educational system she had while growing up in Bethesda.
