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The origin of the name "Silver Spring" comes from a spring discovered by Francis Preston Blair, an editor of the former Washington Globe newspaper. He and his daughter, Elizabeth, were horseback riding through a wooded area near what is now Georgia Avenue when Blair was thrown off his horse, Selim. When he found the horse, its reins were caught on a bush near a stream that Blair thought looked silver.

Blair liked the area so much that in 1842, he bought 1,000 acres surrounding the stream and built a mansion on it, calling it "Silver Spring."

Silver Spring's redeveloped downtown area is gaining attention from around the Metro area, anchored by the new world headquarters of Discovery Communications, Round House Theatre and the American Film Institute's Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.

Local services
Silver Spring Regional Services Center
8435 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-565-7300
Gary Stith, director
Information on downtown revitalization and neighborhood organizations
www.downtownsilverspring.com

Local organizations
Casa of Maryland
734 University Blvd. East
Silver Spring, MD 20903
301-431-4185
A workplace rights organization.
www.casaofmaryland.org.

IMPACT Silver Spring
1313 East West Highway
Silver Spring MD 20910
301-495-3336
An organization dedicated to empowering residents to become active in their communities.
www.impactsilverspring.org.

Silver Spring Historical Society
P.O. Box 1160
Silver Spring, MD 10910
sshistory@yahoo.com
www.sshistory.org

Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition
914 Silver Spring Ave.,
Suite 205
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-562-0250
www.ssihc.org.

National Association of Retired Federal Employees #260
1000 Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, MD 20901
301-593-3630
Meets the fourth Thursday of the month, Margaret Schweinhaut Center

Loyal Order of Moose #658
926 Wayne Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-589-5491

American Legion Cissel Saxon Post 41
905 Sligo Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-588-8937

Silver Spring Rotary
301-593-9249.
Meets 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays at Mrs. K's Toll House, 9201 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
www.silverspringrotary.org.

Wheaton/Silver Spring Kiwanis Club
Meets 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays at Knights of Columbus Hall, 9707 Rosensteel Ave., Silver Spring.
www.wheatonsskiwanis.com.

Silver Spring Lions
Vincent Banes, 301-890-5518.
Meets at 6:30 the fourth Tuesday at Mrs. K's Toll House, 9201 Colesville Road.

Local schools
The area is served by the Downcounty Consortium and the Northeast Consortium. For a list of schools, see page 30.

Police
The area is served by the Silver Spring and Wheaton-Glenmont districts. For a full list of stations, see page 11.

Fire services
The area is served by the Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Department. For a full list of stations, see page 20.

Libraries
The Long Branch and Silver Spring libraries are part of the county library system. For a list of libraries, see page 22.

Business
The area is served by the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce. For a list of chambers, see page 14.