Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Schwartz House / Gaithersburg City Hall / Schwartz Peony Garden
In addition to being a successful real estate broker, Edward Schwartz was an enthusiastic amateur gardener. Adjacent to his home and extending to the railroad tracks and to Hutton Street, Schwartz cultivated what came to be known as the "World Famous Schwartz Peony Garden." Gaithersburg was already regarded as a country retreat for Washington D. C. residents, and the gardens drew numerous vacationers during their peak bloom in late May. The garden was comprised of more than 40,000 blooms from 410 varieties of peonies from around the world. Notable visitors to the elaborate display included President Woodrow Wilson and Mr. Gilbert Grosvenor, President of National Geographic Society, who took extensive photos of the impressive peony collection. Visible from the railroad tracks, the garden attracted the attention of train passengers who crowded to witness one of the largest peony gardens in the nation. The peonies were later painstakingly transplanted to Seneca Creek State Park. In 2004, some of the peonies were relocated to Gaithersburg History Park.
(Caption of the top photo): The Schwartz House
(Caption of the bottom photo): The Schwartz Peony Garden, early 1900's
Erected by City of Gaithersburg.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #28 Woodrow Wilson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 39° 8.502′ N, 77° 11.564′ W. Marker is in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker is on South Summit Avenue just south of East Diamond Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg MD 20877, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Early Years (here, next to this marker); The Business of Agriculture: (here, next to this marker); Gaithersburg Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department (here, next to this marker); Serving the Community's Health Care Needs (here, next to this marker); A Center of Culture and Commerce (here, next to this marker); Building The Future (here, next to this marker); Supplying an Agricultural Community (here, next to this marker); The Gaithersburg School (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gaithersburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,944 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on January 17, 2019, by Bruce Guthrie of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on November 6, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 4, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on March 7, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.