Mount Rainier (Maryland)

Mount Rainier is a city of 8,000 people (2019) in Prince George's County. A large area of Mount Rainier is considered a historic district by the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Rainier still has many of the charms and attractive features that it had in the early 1900s. This article also covers the neighboring community of Brentwood.

Understand

Incorporated in 1910, Mount Rainier began as a "street car" suburb to Washington, DC, offering cheaper housing and a quieter lifestyle for commuters. It grew considerably until the post-Depression mortgage crisis in the 1940s, then fell into a cycle of abandoned and decaying houses with its commiserate increase in low-income residents during the 1970s.

An urban revival began turning around "historic" Mount Rainier to include an Arts District with loft apartments and storefronts to showcase their art. During May, Mount Rainier's many artisans and businesses throw their doors open to the public. The area has attracted a significant LBGT community and many of the vast number of Sears houses and Craftsman-style homes have now been restored. The town has become a haven for freelance workers in the world of theater, including scenic designers, artistic directors, lighting designers, and stage directors.

Get in

Metrobus. (updated May 2015) Bus service in the city is operated by the through several lines along US 1 and Maryland Route 500 (Queens Chapel Road). Additional bus service is provided by the Prince George's County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) The Bus, which also has several lines along the smaller roads.

WMATA. (updated May 2015) Metro service is available in nearby West Hyattsville, but probably not a comfortable walk for most people.

Mount Rainier is also served by the Rhode Island Avenue & Brookland - CUA Metro Station.

Get around

The bus (see Get in) is probably your best option. Like most DC metropolitan neighborhoods, Mt. Rainier is not particularly walk-friendly and considered car-dependent. Driving anywhere requires parking, which is scarce in and around commercial areas.

See

• The Artspace USA. (updated May 2015)
• email= Gateway Arts District. Spanning two miles along Route 1 Baltimore/Rhode Island Avenue, it has a variety of restaurants, coffee houses, local and regional theatres, galleries, entertainment, and arts-related businesses such as arts and crafts stores, designers, and art supply stores. 

Do

• Mount Rainier Nature/Recreation Center, 4701 31st Place. 8:30AM-5PM. Centrally-located, this all-purpose nature and recreation park is a great place to enjoy the day playing sports, including tennis courts, football field, a swimming pool (summer only), and indoor facilities. Also a place to picnic or just walk around with free parking (limited capacity and monitored for time). It provides a much-needed respite from the hustle-bustle of city life. free. 

An extensive hiking trail system run through the community, including the Levee Trail, that started near the Thomas S. Stone Elementary School, running north to and along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River (heading East out of town to Rhode Island Avenue). Nearby Colmar Manor Community Park is also available.

• Joe's Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, ☏ +1 301-699-1819. In addition to providing dancing and other performing arts classes, Joe's has a variety of performances and other events that are open to the public. (updated Mar 2018)

Buy

Several commercial areas line the major thoroughfares, most notably the Route 1 corridor. As the neighborhood has become more diverse and new buildings go up, more boutiques and small shops are beginning to appear with very few "big box" stores vying for their business.

For a larger selection, nearby shopping malls are a few bus stops away to the north, east and south, including The Mall at Prince Georges and

Eat

• Glut Food Co-op, 4005 34th St. 
• Grand China, 2300 Arundel Rd. 
• Pizza D'oro, 4000 34th St. 

Go next

• Brentwood (to the east)
• Cottage City (to the southeast)
• Colmar Manor (to the southeast)
• Hyattsville (to the northeast)
• Washington, D.C. (to the southwest)

Routes through Mount Rainier

Baltimore ← Brentwood ←

N  S

→ Washington, D.C. → Richmond