News Update

Programs in Ballroom for 2012

SOS is pleased to present our third year of programs to showcase the National Park Seminary site and explore its history in its transformation from hotel to private women’s school to military recuperation facility and now to a residential community. Held in the grand ballroom at the Seminary, these programs are open to the general public. Admission is free for SOS members; there is a $5 per person charge for non-members. Here is a list of the dates and topics. See our Winter 2012 newsletter for more details.

March 14 - Naughty and Nice: More Stories from the Seminary Girls

May  - Date and topic to be determined

September 12 - Sculptures Then and Now

November 14 - Who Were The Students of NPS?


Tours of National Park Seminary
If you haven’t ever, or haven’t in quite awhile, taken a tour of this unique historical site, this year would be a good time to do so. Hear the stories of its various uses over time while seeing some buildings being restored along with those already completed and occupied.  Check our Tours page for the 2012 season schedule starting in March.

In the meantime, you can take a short self-guided tour of the site via an interpretive trail, which makes a large loop through the Seminary property. The trail starts near Linden Lane and Cassedy Street. Nine large trail markers contain a site map, a historic photo, and text that explain the history of what can be viewed from each marker.

SOS Chosen for 2011 Montgomery Prize
Save Our Seminary is this year’s recipient of the Montgomery Prize, Montgomery County’s highest honor for historic preservation. It was recently presented to SOS in
recognition of our 22 years of sustained preservation efforts on a federal, state and local level.

Outdoor Sculpture Project
The fall was a busy, productive time for sculpture. After special training by a conservator, SOS volunteers cleaned the marble Grief of Cyparissus (or “I missed the train”) statue. The pair of zinc lions nicknamed Leo and Theo was moved from storage to their original location on pedestals on the fountain circle. Come by and see the sculptures slowly coming back—and make a tax-deductible donation to help restore them!

Redevelopment Update
The new owner/developer of the Swiss chalet is very busy removing the old exterior paint and repainting the house gray with off-white trim. Next door at the Japanese pagoda, that owner has repainted the roof and trim and is getting ready to replace the cracked and sinking concrete terrace and steps, if the weather stays warm enough. On the other side of the main building, the owners of the American bungalow received approval from the county to replace their roof, the first step in their home renovation.

There is serious interest in the gym and the other six buildings not yet renovated for reuse as housing, and SOS is hopeful that spring will bring construction activity.