The Past, Present and Future of the Bethesda Meeting House

Join us for a lecture with Hank Levine about the history of Bethesda.

Despite being among the community’s most storied buildings, the Bethesda Meeting House was vacant and deteriorating when it (and the adjacent parsonage) was acquired in 2023 by the Bethesda Meeting House Foundation, an affiliate of the Bethesda Historical Society. Constructed in 1820  — and rebuilt in 1850 after a fire -- it features a rare “slave gallery,” was the town’s first Post Office, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the MoCo Master Plan for Historic Preservation. Tradition has it that Abraham Lincoln worshipped there, and it was occupied by Confederate cavalry during Jubal Early’s raid on Washington in July 1864. 

Bethesda historian Hank Levine will give an illustrated tour of this iconic building’s history, significance, and future. This program is cosponsored by the Bethesda Metro Area Village, the Bethesda Historical Society, and Connie Morella Library.  Free and open to the public. 

BMAV is a volunteer-driven neighborhood nonprofit that works to build community connections among neighbors through social engagement and recruiting volunteers to help one another. Check out www.bmavillage.org for more information.

Looking for more fun things to do at MCPL? Please review the Events Calendar for more historical programs.

Take a look at these resources for learning more about history. Don't have a card right now? No worries! Find out how to Get a Library Card.

Accommodation Requests

People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing should request English-language captioning or sign-language interpretation at least five days before the library-sponsored program they plan to attend. Contact the Assistant Facilities and Accessibility Program Manager at 240-777-0002 with all other accommodation requests.

Upcoming Events