The History of the Filene Center
Decades of Music and Magic
The Filene Center opened its doors in 1971 as the heart of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, thanks to the vision and generosity of Catherine Filene Shouse, who donated the land and funds to create a space where the arts and nature could come together. Named in honor of her family, the Filene Center has welcomed generations of artists and audiences alike—from symphonies and rock legends to operas and pop icons. Though the original structure was lost to fire in 1982, it was quickly rebuilt and reopened in 1984, stronger and more spectacular than ever. Today, it remains a beloved destination for summer performances under the open sky.
A Visual History
Why Wolf Trap?
Records from as early as 1632 show wolves were once highly prevalent in the region. Eventually the wolf population became less common, but by the 18th-century, “Wolftrap” was the official name of the area.
When Wolf Trap founder, Mrs. Shouse first purchased her land, with a mile and a half of Wolf Trap Run flowing through it, she chose to emphasize the area’s history by naming it Wolf Trap Farm.
Architecture & The Filene Center
This is some context about the design of the Filene Center
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Mirroring the surrounding woods
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Mies van der Rohe once said
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A historic look at the Filene Center in
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Contemporary enhancements made possible by
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Join us on the lawn!
