History

From Farm to a National Stage

Founded in 1968, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts was born from philanthropist Catherine Filene Shouse’s visionary gift of land and funds to the federal government in 1966. Her dream was to create a place where the performing arts and nature could thrive together. That vision became Wolf Trap Farm Park, now Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the nation’s only national park dedicated to the performing arts.

Since 1971, the Filene Center has hosted nearly 4,000 performances to the enjoyment of millions of fans. Since 1981, The Barns has hosted more than 3,000 performances.

Just across the Meadow from the Filene Center is Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, a special outdoor venue especially created and programmed for families and children.

 

A Vision for Arts, Nature, and Refreshing Retreat from City Life

When Diana Ross, The Avett Brothers, Wynton Marsalis, Halsey, Sting, Jennifer Hudson, or the National Symphony Orchestra take the stage at Wolf Trap, they are standing on what used to be a working farm owned by a visionary woman, Catherine Filene Shouse.

When she founded Wolf Trap Farm Park in 1966, Mrs. Shouse was already 71 years old. She was a highly decorated public servant with deep roots in the nation’s capital and with international leaders—having worked with every president from Woodrow Wilson to Bill Clinton.

Mrs. Shouse began acquiring farmland outside of Washington, DC in 1930 for use as a refuge from city life. By 1956, she had 168 acres and was growing a variety of crops, as well as breeding horses and dogs.

Most importantly, the farm served as a gathering place for family and friends, as well as international dignitaries and members of the Washington, DC social and political community, where they enjoyed dinners, parties, dances, carnivals, and simple nature walks in the country.

A Gift to the Nation

In 1966, Catherine Filene Shouse decided to donate 100 acres of her farm to the US government, as well as funds to build a large outdoor amphitheater—now fondly known as the Filene Center.

Mrs. Shouse’s goal was to protect the land from encroaching roads and development, as well as to create a place where the arts could be enjoyed in harmony with nature.

That same year, Congress accepted Mrs. Shouse's gift and designated it as Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.

Construction on the amphitheater subsequently began and the Filene Center was finally completed in 1971. In 2002, Wolf Trap Farm Park was officially renamed. 

A Favorite Among Artists from Day One

The inaugural performances at the Filene Center on July 1-2, 1971, featured Julius Rudel conducting the National Symphony Orchestra with pianist Van Cliburn and New York City Opera star Norman Treigle,  “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and the Madison Madrigal Singers.

Since that time, Wolf Trap’s Filene Center has attracted world-class artists from every genre of the performing arts—many of whom return each summer because of their love for this extraordinary setting.

A Second Gift to DC-Area Arts-Lovers

In 1981, Mrs. Shouse donated another venue to house smaller acts year-round, The Barns at Wolf Trap, which is managed by the nonprofit Wolf Trap Foundation.

Mrs. Shouse had two 18^th-century barns from New York relocated to Virginia a

nd rebuilt in a manner that kept their rustic charm, but offered superb acoustics and amenities.

Together, the two structures now make up The Barns, which presents more than 80 performances every fall through spring including the Chamber Music at The Barns series, and during the summer months, is home to Wolf Trap Opera.

Commitment to Education

Wolf Trap Foundation has been committed to arts education from the start.

Wolf Trap Opera was founded in 1971 and has since emerged as one of the nation’s premier residency programs for young singers. Wolf Trap Opera alumni can be found in top opera houses across the country and abroad.

In 1981, Wolf Trap Foundation made the decision to invest heavily in arts education for young children—particularly in underserved communities. This decision was born out of a desire to use the performing arts to better engage children at the earliest stages of their development.

Wolf Trap's Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts was established through a grant from the Head Start Bureau of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

In the decades since, Wolf Trap Institute has become a national leader in arts and early childhood education, with affiliate programs across the country and around the world.