Montgomery Modern
Montgomery County historic preservation planners have begun exploring, analyzing and recording local mid-century modern buildings and communities, part of an effort we call Montgomery Modern.
Montgomery Modern explores mid-century modern buildings and communities that reflect the optimistic spirit of the post-war era in Montgomery County, Maryland. From International Style office towers to Googie style stores and contemporary tract houses, Montgomery Modern celebrates the buildings, technology, and materials of the Atomic Age, from the late 1940s through the 1960s. A half century later, we now have perspective to appreciate these resources as a product of their time.
The historic value of the mid-century era — the 1940s through the 1960s — has, until recently, been largely overlooked. Now, as these buildings and communities have matured and are over 50 years old, we have begun to appreciate their historical cultural and architectural significance. As result of a more complete understanding of these resources, decision-makers may find some of these resources appropriate for historic preservation.
Planners want to help raise the public's understanding of - and appreciation for - these buildings and communities developed during a time of tremendous growth in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County mid-century resources
Read more about the mid-century era:
- Architects
- Subdivisions
- Buildings Under Evaluation for Historic Designation:
- Flower Theater and Shopping Center (1948; 1954) 8701-8739 Flower Avenue
- Americana Glenmont (1961) 2300 Glenmont Circle. Research form ,Figures
- Georgia Avenue Baptist Church (1954; 1961) 12525 Georgia Avenue. Research form, Figures
- Naval Ordnance Lab Admin Building (1946) 10603 New Hampshire Avenue
- Blog posts
- Operations Research Institute, (1963) 1400 Spring Street, Silver Spring
- American National Bank, (1963) 8701 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring
- Bushey Drive School, (1961) 4010 Randolph Road, Wheaton
- White Oak Professional Center, (1965) 11161 Lockwood Drive, Silver Spring
- Seymour Krieger House, (1958) 6739 Brigadoon Drive, Bethesda
- Geico, (1959) 5260 Western Avenue, Friendship Heights
- Weller's Dry Cleaners, (1960) 8237Fenton Street, Silver Spring
- Reference Sources
- Know of a good mid-century building we ought to consider? Contact us with your ideas, describe the sites and/or send photos and we'll evaluate them.
More information
- DOCOMOMO
- Peerless Rockville Recent Past
- National Park Service Recent Past Initiative
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Recent Past + Modernism Initiative
- Recent Past Preservation Network
M-NCPPC Staff Contact
Clare Lise Kelly
301-495-3402
Clare.Kelly@montgomeryplanning.org
Date of last update: February 19, 2013
Montgomery County Planning Department
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.montgomeryplanning.org