Silver Spring, MD

Silver Spring has an important business district, a range of shopping options and broad green spaces. Its charming downtown area showcases historic institutions and monuments. Stroll through the town center for a sense of local culture and history.

Among the town’s intriguing vestiges is the Silver Spring Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station. Sit in the preserved 1940s waiting room, which has its original fluorescent lights. Watch modern trains roll by from the bench on the canopied platform. Capture photos of the redbrick façade and appreciate the Colonial Revival design of the structure, a short walk from its modern-day version, Silver Spring Station.

The town center has several entertainment venues, including AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Watch an art-house film, see an old classic or attend a film festival in this culture center. Visit the adjacent Fillmore Silver Spring, recognizable by its iconic neon lights, for a great range of shows. Such celebrities as Kesha, Blue October and Hanson have graced the stage of this 2,000-person-capacity venue.

For a change of theme, encounter the business behemoths of Silver Spring. The highlight is One Discovery Place, the home of Discovery Channel, among other brands. Snap photos of the iconic Discovery sign atop the tower.

Inspect the Mayor of Silver Spring statue beside the imposing central business district. This bronze bust of homeless man Norman Lane is a reminder of the town’s friendly and personal tone. Note that the settlement takes its name from a spring flecked with glittering mica discovered in 1840.

Find the town in the southern part of Montgomery County in Maryland. Drive north from the center of Washington D.C. for 6 miles (10 kilometers) to get here or take the Red metro line to the Silver Spring Metrorail Station. If you don’t have a car, get around the area by bus or rent a bicycle.

Silver Spring is an entertainment hub with historic attractions and a significant business district.