Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join

How Many Countries Have You Visited?

Track every country you've been to and earn passport stamps in the Atlas Obscura app.

Track your countries

How Many U.S. States Can You Check Off?

Mark each state you've visited to reveal your total.

Start Your Map!

It’s Spooky Season.

Explore strange places, curious stories, and eerie events around the world, online and in person.

Explore Spooky Season
All the United States Maryland Silver Spring

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Silver Spring

13 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Silver Spring, Maryland

Updated March 9, 2022
Email
Attractions
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Silver Spring

National Museum of Health and Medicine

Silver Spring, Maryland

National Museum of Health and Medicine

An astounding collection of medical specimens, including bits of President Lincoln.
The pagoda, now a private residence

Silver Spring, Maryland

National Park Seminary

A girls' boarding school inspired by the Chicago World's Fair, once abandoned, now restored to strange and scenic glory.

Silver Spring, Maryland

'Coastline' Wave Pool

Live data is transmitted from the Atlantic coast to instantly recreate the ocean waves in this fountain at the NOAA headquarters.
Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Wheaton Station Escalator

Silver Spring, Maryland

Wheaton Station Escalator

The longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere takes over three minutes to ride down.
Some of the more than 50,000 beloved pets buried at Aspin Hill.

Silver Spring, Maryland

Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery

Dogs, cats, horses, monkeys, frogs, and fish are laid to rest at the second-oldest pet cemetery in the U.S.
Silver Spring, Maryland’s Acorn Park.  Photograph Copyright 2005 by Jerry A. McCoy.

Silver Spring, Maryland

Acorn Park

Giant acorn-shaped 19th century gazebo from which suburban Washingtonians gazed upon the original "silver" spring.
Historic trolley car.

Silver Spring, Maryland

National Capital Trolley Museum

A suburban museum tells the story of a historic transportation network and even provides rides in antique trolley cars.
See All 13 Things To Do in Silver Spring
In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Silver Spring, Maryland

Architecture 4
Museums 2
History & Culture 2
Sculptures 2
Medical Museums 2
Transportation 2
Architectural Oddities 2
Science 2
Roadside Attractions 1
Nature 1
Anatomy Museums 1
Railroads 1
Graveyards 1
Science Museums 1
Politics 1
Abandoned 1
Military History 1
Art 1
Statues 1
Collections 1

Silver Spring Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. B blimpcaptain profile photo
    blimpcaptain
    3
  2. e1savage profile photo
    e1savage
    2
  3. robertshell22 profile photo
    robertshell22
    1
  4. S sshistory profile photo
    sshistory
    1
  5. E etrebel161 profile photo
    etrebel161
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Silver Spring.

Places Edited

  1. B blimpcaptain profile photo
    blimpcaptain
    8
  2. e1savage profile photo
    e1savage
    5
  3. H hugh rand profile photo
    hugh rand
    4
  4. hrnick profile photo
    hrnick
    3
  5. T Taterchips profile photo
    Taterchips
    3

Places Visited

  1. S shamash20 profile photo
    shamash20
    13
  2. A AriAlbD profile photo
    AriAlbD
    13
  3. O OBellus Fun profile photo
    OBellus Fun
    12
  4. guthriebruce profile photo
    guthriebruce
    12
  5. K Kev Obie profile photo
    Kev Obie
    12
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Silver Spring.

Recent Silver Spring Activity

  • B bpowlus1 profile photo

    bpowlus1

    wants to go to National Park Seminary

  • C CaveVex profile photo

    CaveVex

    wants to go to National Museum of Health and Medicine

  • G gotajeep profile photo

    gotajeep

    wants to go to 'Coastline' Wave Pool

  • G gotajeep profile photo

    gotajeep

    wants to go to Acorn Park

  • C carollo profile photo

    carollo

    wants to go to National Museum of Health and Medicine

Stories About Silver Spring

Podcast: National Museum of Health and Medicine

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
May 12, 2021
The Dutch Windmill, which was purchased by Paula Doulaveris and Richard Birdsong in 2010.

How a Maryland Finishing School Became an International Architectural Wonderland

National Park Seminary had an unconventional approach to education.
by Matthew Blitz, Atlas Obscura
May 29, 2019

Lists Featuring Silver Spring

A view of the Cushing Center from the entrance
Brain of Helen Hamilton Gardener

The World's Most Fascinating Displays of Preserved Brains

The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

8

Including The Cushing Center, Mammalian Brain Collection, and Brain Museum

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.