Bethesda Meeting House

Bethesda Meeting House is a wooden structure built in Greek Revival style with Gothic windows, positioned on Rockville Pike near the National Institutes of Health campus. The building combines classical design elements and occupies a notable location within the broader landscape of the area.

The original building was constructed in 1820 but was destroyed by fire, leading to the construction of the current wooden structure in 1850. The building housed a post office in its early years and played a role in the founding and naming of the surrounding community.

The building contains a gallery section where enslaved people were permitted to attend worship, a visible reminder of how faith spaces reflected the social divisions of the time. This area represents a difficult chapter that visitors can still observe today.

The structure is located along Rockville Pike and is accessible by car, with nearby parking available for visitors. The property is open during daytime hours, and weekends are generally the best time for visits.

A church pastor convinced officials to rename the local post office, ultimately giving the name Bethesda to the entire surrounding region. This single act of naming became the foundation for the community's identity and what people call the area today.

Location: Montgomery County

Website: https://mht.maryland.gov/nr/NRDetail.aspx?NRID=423

GPS coordinates: 39.00996,-77.09821

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06