History & Culture

An older woman with two men looking at a model of a wooden amphitheater.
Mr. Gerald Holmes (right) of the Wolf Trap Foundation points out features of the model of the Filene Center to Mrs. Shouse (center) and violinist Mr. Yehudi Menuhin (left), November 1968.

Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

On October 15, 1966 an Act of Congress (Public Law 89-671) provided for the establishment of Wolf Trap Farm Park (the park's original name) in Fairfax County, Virginia. The park was established "... for the performing arts and related educational programs, and for recreation use in connection therewith..."

The park's name was officially changed from Wolf Trap Farm Park to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts on August 21, 2002 (Public Law 107-219).

Learn more about the park’s history and unique cultural significance on the following pages:

2021 Cultural Landscape Report

Catherine Filene Shouse

Theater 101

 
Showing results 1-2 of 2

  • Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

    Setting the Stage for a National Park for the Performing Arts

    • Locations: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
    Black and white photo of two men and one woman talking about a model of an outdoor theater.

    As the only national park dedicated to the performing arts, Wolf Trap is a unique space for visitors to interact with the performing arts in nature. Support for the park came from the tireless work of Catherine Filene Shouse, the park’s benefactor, who garnered the necessary support and funds during the cultural renaissance of the performing arts in the 1960s and 70s.

    • Locations: Antietam National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Monocacy National Battlefield, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
    • Offices: Wildland Fire Program
    Fire in grasses burn near a Civil War cannon.

    Resource and facility managers in the National Capital Area (NCA) are relying more frequently on prescribed burning as a tool to protect, restore, enhance and maintain historic Civil War sites.

 

Source: Data Store Saved Search 4986 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Last updated: January 14, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1551 Trap Road
Vienna, VA 22182-1643

Phone:

703 255-1800

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