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Reliving history

Collection 05 · 05-10

Picnicking at Marshall Hall (05-10)

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Watercolor painting of families and friends picnicking beneath tall shade trees at Marshall Hall in 1940, with wooden picnic tables, visitors, automobiles, and the peaceful grounds of the Potomac River amusement resort.

Historical narrative

On a warm summer afternoon in 1940, a picnic at Marshall Hall was a relaxing escape from the bustle of Washington, DC. Families and friends spread out beneath the towering shade trees, gathering around wooden picnic tables while children played nearby. The air carried the sounds of conversation, laughter, and distant amusement rides drifting through the park. Families unpacked baskets of homemade food and cold drinks, sharing a leisurely meal beneath the trees. Automobiles filled the nearby parking areas as visitors spent the day strolling, socializing, and enjoying the fresh breeze from the Potomac River. Sunlight filtered through the leafy canopy, creating dappled patterns across the grass and tables. It was a peaceful, community-centered experience that many visitors remembered fondly for years afterward.

Watercolor