Getting to Marshall Hall (05-02)

Historical narrative

In the 1950s and 1960s, a trip to Marshall Hall was often an adventure in itself. Many families from Washington, DC, boarded one of the Potomac River excursion boats, including the S.S. Mount Vernon, at the city's waterfront and enjoyed a leisurely cruise past historic landmarks, including George Washington's Mount Vernon. As the boat approached Marshall Hall, passengers could see the amusement rides, picnic groves, and dance pavilion along the shoreline. Getting there was truly half the fun! Other visitors arrived by automobile, driving through southern Maryland to the riverside park. Upon arrival, visitors stepped into a lively atmosphere filled with the sounds of amusement rides, laughter, and boat whistles. Many spent the day riding attractions, swimming, picnicking, dancing, and strolling the grounds before returning home by boat or car in the cool evening air. Lucky folks could take the Moonlight Dance Cruise to Marshall Hall and back. An advertisement at the time touted: "Cool off on summer nights by taking a moonlight cruise on the Wilson Line steamliner S.S. Mount Vernon." It didn't get any more romantic than that.

Watercolor

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