Home

Overview

Artists

Sponsors

Gallery

Events

Pressroom

FAQ/Contact

 

 

 

 

"Map of Gaithersburg"

About the Train

The caboose titled “Map of Gaithersburg” was inspired by the changing lines of the city over the years from a log town and farming community to what it is today. While the map shows NIST right in the center of the general map today, it wasn't always that way. What we now call "Olde Towne" was the center of the “diamond,” and is still a thriving, exciting center area that retains its traditional flavor, with antique shopping, a coin shop, excellent restaurants, and a music store, just to name a few. Also in the “diamond” of Gaithersburg is a branch of Montgomery College, and City Hall, with its park and outdoor theater that hosts musical diversions all summer long. The oldest building is now a restaurant, on the corner across from the oldest drugstore, still in business, both across the street from the railroad station with its old locomotive. Turn right on Russell Avenue to find Lakeforest Mall and Asbury Methodist Village. A restored Victorian home, now the Gaithersburg Inn, is sponsoring this train. Make a left on Walker Avenue and see a whole street of historic homes that used to sit in the "country" with cows in pastures. Take a close look at #18 Walker Avenue. This is the restored home of five former Mayors of Gaithersburg.

"I thought a map is what is needed," and as Paul Harvey says, "Now you know the rest of the story," says artist Edna Searles.

Materials and Design

Painted with acrylics and drawings of some of the oldest places in Olde Towne Gaithersburg.

About the Artist

Edna Searles has painted, sculpted, and written poetry and music for so many years that she has lost count. She lists among her highlights: A one-person exhibit at the Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, New York; Honorary Gold Medal for painting from The Academy of Art in Rome, Italy; four murals in the area ... Damascus Methodist Church, The Original Ambrosia , The Baronessa Restaurants both in Rockville; and in Lawrenceville, GA: illustrated eight books; awarded four grants to paint crabs for the Crabtown Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation 2005; in the permanent art collection of Montgomery County, MD and Gwinnett County, GA and many private collections; the Garden Gallery and Nancy Stamm's Galleria in Carlisle, PA; honorarium for International Sculpture, Rockville, MD 1999 and 2000; Judge for the Gaithersburg, Fair Art Section; Curator of East Meets West for The Delaplaine Art Gallery in Frederick, MD; Listed in Who's Who in America; Who's Who in American Women; World's Who's Who of Women and Who's Who in the World; Inventor of Music for the Eyes (for people that are deaf); Jazz poster for Mel Brown and the University of Western Oregon Jazz Workshop; and Television Courtroom Drawings.