The Crystal Pool (05-24)

Historical narrative

On a warm summer afternoon in 1958, the Crystal Pool at Glen Echo sparkled beneath the Maryland sun. Opened in 1931, it was promoted as one of the largest swimming pools in the nation. Its signature feature was a broad sandy beach that sloped gently into the water, giving Steve and other visitors the feeling of a seaside vacation. Children built sandcastles and splashed in the shallows while older swimmers dove, raced, and sunbathed nearby. Steve learned to swim there. The sounds of the carousel and roller coaster drifted across the park. The Crystal Pool remained a beloved attraction until 1968, when it closed after Glen Echo's owners chose not to comply with federal civil rights laws requiring desegregation. Today, the pool is remembered as both a summertime landmark and a symbol of an important chapter in civil rights history.

Watercolor

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