The remarkable story of Catherine Filene Shouse + VIP Backstage Tour

Celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth with NPS staff.

Learn about Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts' founder and leading lady -Catherine Filene Shouse (1896-1994), complete with historic photos. Born in Boston to a wealthy merchandising family, her grandfather William Filene founded Filene's Department store and her mother started the Boston Music School for Underprivileged Children. We will share details about her lifetime of activism, supporter of the arts, humble civil servant, and her lifelong perseverance, leadership and vision. Mrs. Shouse was the first in many areas; first woman to be appointed to the Democratic National Committee, first woman to receive a degree from Harvard University (M. Ed.), first woman to chair the Federal Prison for Women - instituting a job training and rehabilitation program-and the first and only person to receive both an American Medal of Freedom and a British Award of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, plus so much more you will hear about in this session. Mrs. Shouse believed children should have the opportunity to learn about the arts, nature and animals, so she bought Wolf Trap Farm. We will share how her farm eventually became the beautiful integration of nature and the arts- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts -a remarkably successful private-public partnership. Following the lecture, join us for a National Park Service Ranger backstage tour of the newly renovated backstage area and stand on the same stage as your favorite performers, past and present.

🎙🎼 Photo: Catherine Filene Shouse c. 1913 Print Courtesy of the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Additional photos: Credit. H. Rahacek, Friends of Wolf Trap National Park

FREE - MUST RSVP here. All ages welcome.

LIMITED CAPACITY: If you must, please cancel at least 3 days in advance if you cannot make it as this is a limited size group event and there will be a waiting list for tickets.

📍 Backstage Filene Center. Parking Lots 1 and 4

***Presentation starts promptly at 1pm so please arrive 15 minutes early***

Please dress in layers and bring a jacket as areas of the backstage are open to the elements and, depending on the weather, can be quite chilly.

Learn more:

https://www.nps.gov/wotr/planyourvisit

Attendees participate at their own risk.