Editing Mountain Lake Park, Maryland (section)

==History==
[[File:Mountain Lake Park Maryland from Book of the Royal Blue April 1909 Vol 12 No 07 Page 09.jpg|thumb|left|Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, circa 1909]]
[[Mountain Lake Park Historic District]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1983.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref> [[Creedmore (Mountain Lake Park, Maryland)|Creedmore]] was listed in 1984.<ref name="nris"/>

Mountain Lake Park was founded in 1881 as Maryland's original Chautauqua resort community along the B&O Railroad. Called the Mountain Chautauqua, the summer destination grew to be one of the nation's top destinations over the course of three decades, attracting notable speakers like President [[William Howard Taft]] and [[William Jennings Bryan|William Jenning's Bryan]]. President [[Benjamin Harrison]] made a reception stop after getting elected in 1889. The Railroad Evangelist, Jennie Smith, was a frequent speaker and resident of Mountain Lake Park, where she owned and operated the Grace Hotel. Before becoming internationally known as [[Charles Joseph Carter|Carter the Great]], the young magician was billed under his given name, Charles Carter.

Over 60 original buildings from the turn of the last century remain in Mountain Lake Park. Cottages and boarding homes were indicative of the community's early years. Due to the variety of rural resort architectural styles, the National Register of Historic Places recognized the district. Many buildings feature porches adorned with scroll-sawn balustrades, cornices, and brackets used in fanciful ways. The original Ticket Office that accompanied the 5,000-seat Bashford Amphitheater was refurbished in 2002 and now serves as the town's museum with an extensive display showcasing the town's history. The Amphitheater was razed in the 1940s with the salvaged lumber used to build a number of homes.

After visiting [[Chautauqua, New York]], seven businessmen and ministers fashioned Mountain Lake Park after the New York model with Christian restrictions attached to each deed. They negotiated to add a depot with B&O Railroad President [[John W. Garrett|John Work Garrett]], after which the county is named. Among the founders was [[John Goucher|John Franklin Goucher]], who helped found the college in Baltimore that bears his name. Goucher served as the last interim president of the Mountain Lake Park Association before it was sold to the Board of Foreign Missions. The town became incorporated in 1931 and is primarily a residential community.

The original clay tennis courts, which the Women's Civic Club began, have been maintained and are used today.