The Virginia farm that fed the arts during the World Wars

Catherine Shouse’s $5,300 Farm Becomes Wolf Trap

In 1930, Catherine Filene Shouse paid just $5,300 for a small Virginia farm she found in a newspaper ad. What began as a place to grow crops soon grew into a 168-acre hub for Washington’s elite.

Then in 1966, Shouse made history. She gave 60 acres to the nation, plus $2 million to build a performance center named for her parents.

Wolf Trap opened in July 1971 with star-studded shows that drew First Lady Pat Nixon to opening night. A month later, President Nixon himself showed up, becoming the first sitting president to catch a Wolf Trap show.

Today, this musical landmark still echoes with the vision of a woman who turned farmland into America’s first national park for the arts.

$5,300 Farm Purchase Started With a Newspaper Ad

Catherine Filene Shouse bought 53 acres in Vienna, Virginia for $5,300 in February 1930. She spotted the property in a newspaper ad the same night she asked about it.

Earlier that day, a local man told her “nothing for sale” when she asked about farmland while driving from Georgetown. Catherine wanted a weekend farm where her kids could enjoy nature.

She called the property Wolf Trap Farm after the nearby creek.

She used her last savings to buy the land and fixed up the old farmhouse with help from family and friends.

Her Working Farm Fed Family and Friends

Wolf Trap Farm grew oats, wheat, alfalfa, and other crops for Catherine’s circle. The Shouses raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, horses, and milk cows on the property.

Catherine built stables, hay barns, and opened a dog-breeding kennel that produced champion boxers, miniature pinschers, and Weimaraners.

By 1956, her farmland grew to 168 acres as she bought nearby plots whenever she had extra money. She earned some income by selling eggs and milk to her Georgetown neighbors.

Soldiers Rested at Wolf Trap During World War II

During World War II, Wolf Trap became a rest spot for American soldiers on leave.

Fresh produce was hard to find during wartime, so Catherine opened the farm to feed many people beyond her close circle. Generals Omar Bradley and George C. Marshall visited Wolf Trap, with Bradley coming after the Battle of the Bulge.

The farm hosted important political figures and members of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in 1944.

Catherine often talked about how Wolf Trap helped “people here and abroad.

Music Took Root in Catherine’s Life and Land

By the 1950s, Wolf Trap had turned into a popular spot for Washington gatherings. Catherine ran chamber music concerts at the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. from 1935-1942.

She served on the National Symphony Orchestra board as vice president from 1951-1968. In 1962, she organized the first International Jazz Festival while leading the President’s Music Committee.

These experiences helped form her idea of mixing nature and arts at Wolf Trap.

A Bold Proposal to Secretary Udall Changed Everything

Worried that Wolf Trap would be split up by spreading development, Catherine talked to Interior Secretary Stewart Udall in 1965.

She told him: “You have many parks for recreation, but you have nothing in the performing arts. ” Catherine gave 60 acres while the American Symphony Orchestra League added 38 more acres.

Senator A. Willis Robertson brought the Wolf Trap bill to Congress on May 28, 1966.

President Johnson signed the law on October 15, 1966, creating the first national park for performing arts in America.

Fire Nearly Derailed the Opening Plans

Catherine offered over $2 million to build the Filene Center, named after her parents Abraham and Thérèse Lincoln Filene.

Lady Bird Johnson and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall broke ground for the Filene Center in May 1968. The Oregon red-cedar theater partly burned down on March 13, 1971, just months before opening.

A benefit concert featuring Pierre Boulez conducting the New York Philharmonic raised $650,000 for repairs. Catherine visited construction workers daily, bringing coffee and support to finish on time.

Van Cliburn and Opera Stars Launched the First Season

Wolf Trap’s first shows happened July 1-2, 1971, featuring Van Cliburn, Julius Rudel, and Norman Treigle conducting the New York City Opera. The National Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Marine Band, Choral Arts Society of Washington, and Madison Madrigal Singers also performed.

The 7,028-seat Filene Center offered covered seating and lawn space for outdoor picnicking. Robert Lewis, founder of the Actors Studio, directed the first season’s training program.

The opening fulfilled Catherine’s 40-year dream of mixing performing arts with natural settings.

Young Performers Traced Musical Theater History on Stage

The Wolf Trap Company put on “Musical Theater Cavalcade,” covering musical theater from The Beggar’s Opera to Hair. Sixty young performers were picked from 1,000 auditions across the country.

The show featured multimedia sets by Leo Kerz, choreography by Gemeze de Lappe, and musical direction by Johnny Green.

Robert Lewis directed this big production as both a training program and highlight of the first season. The cavalcade showed the range of American musical theater in Wolf Trap’s natural setting.

Pat Nixon Welcomed Performers to the White House

First Lady Pat Nixon came to Wolf Trap’s opening night show on July 1, 1971. She asked the entire cast of “Musical Theater Cavalcade” to a White House reception afterward.

The cast sang without music for Mrs. Nixon and Catherine Shouse during a small tea at the White House.

Mrs. Nixon’s attendance gave key early support and publicity for the new national cultural venue.

Her backing helped make Wolf Trap a top spot for both performers and audiences.

President Nixon Made History with His August Visit

President Richard Nixon went to Wolf Trap on August 12, 1971, becoming the first sitting U. S. president to attend a performance there. He watched the Wolf Trap Company perform “Musical Theater Cavalcade” during the first season.

Nixon told The New York Times that night: “I thought it was a great show. Without question, there will be some great stars produced from this company.”

His attendance showed Wolf Trap had successfully joined America’s cultural landscape.

The presidential visit brought national recognition for Catherine’s vision of accessible performing arts in a natural setting.

The Farm-Turned-Cultural Center Shaped American Arts

Wolf Trap’s successful 1971 opening season proved Catherine’s idea that people could enjoy world-class entertainment at reasonable prices in a park setting.

The venue became a model for outdoor cultural centers nationwide and attracted international performing arts companies.

Catherine kept actively managing Wolf Trap operations, traveling globally to find talent and talk with world leaders.

The first year made real her dream of creating a “peaceful and historic setting” where people could experience great music while connected to nature.

Visiting Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Virginia

Wolf Trap National Park at 1551 Trap Road in Vienna tells the story of Catherine Filene Shouse turning her farm into America’s first national park for performing arts.

Admission is free, and you can take the Park History Walk from Farm to Theater at the Ranger Station. Guided ranger tours run October through April by calling 703-255-1800.

Backstage tours last 60-90 minutes for up to 30 people. Performance tickets cost extra for shows.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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