Modeled after Ebenezer Howard’s garden city ideal developed in England, Greenbelt, Maryland is a planned community built by the Federal Government during the Great Depression.

The landscape blends Art Deco and Modern design elements within a park-like setting to create an interesting juxtaposition of styles. A road rings the outside, while homes face the interior parks connected by sidewalks and underpasses leading to a community center and shopping. Agricultural plots were designated on the outer edges for growing food.

Although it attempted to uphold the ideals of a cooperative community of the New Deal era, the city was racially exclusive. Only whites were allowed to move in to this seemingly ideal garden city.

For more information, visit the Greenbelt Museum:

http://greenbeltmuseum.org/history