Merriweather Post Pavilion Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Construction
Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2017 (prior to major renovations)
Address	10475 Little Patuxent Parkway
Location	Columbia, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates	39°12′33.29″N 76°51′45.61″W / 39.2092472°N 76.8626694°W / 39.2092472; -76.8626694
Public transit	RTA 406 (Central Library stop) RTA 501 , RTA 503, MTA 315 (Broken Land/Hickory Ridge)
Owner	Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission
Operator	I.M.P. LLC
Type	Amphitheater
Genre(s)	Music
Seating type	Lawn, stadium
Capacity	19,319
Opened	1967
Renovated	2015–2016, 2018
Architect	Gehry, Walsh, & O'Malley

Merriweather Post Pavilion is a famous outdoor concert stage, called an amphitheater, located in Columbia, Maryland. It's a popular spot for music lovers and has been recognized as one of the best amphitheaters in the United States by magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stone.

The venue is known for its beautiful setting in the woods and can hold over 19,000 people. It has a mix of stadium-style seats and a large lawn area where fans can relax on blankets while enjoying the show.

History of the Pavilion
Gallery
See also

History of the Pavilion

The story of Merriweather Post Pavilion begins in the 1960s. It was designed to be a special place for music in the new community of Columbia.

A Grand Opening

The pavilion was designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry. He was known for creating buildings with unique and interesting shapes. The venue opened in 1967 on land that was once part of a large estate called Oakland Manor. It was named after Marjorie Merriweather Post, a businesswoman who gave a lot of money to support the National Symphony.

The original idea was for the pavilion to be a summer home for the National Symphony Orchestra. The grand opening took place on July 14, 1967. Even though a big rainstorm flooded the stage, the show went on!

Famous Performances and Big Changes

The pavilion's seating area before it was renovated.

Soon, Merriweather became a top spot for popular music. Some of the biggest names in rock and roll played here, including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and The Who. In 1969, The Who and Led Zeppelin shared the stage for the only time ever, playing for a huge crowd of 20,000 people.

Over the years, the venue went through many changes. In the 1970s, more seats were added. The type of music played at the pavilion also shifted from orchestras to rock bands. Sometimes, there were disagreements about which bands should be allowed to perform.

A fun moment in the venue's history happened in 1978. President Jimmy Carter surprised the audience by getting on stage with country singer Willie Nelson to sing a duet of "Georgia on My Mind".

Saving Merriweather

In the early 2000s, there was a plan to close the pavilion. This news upset many local fans. A group of teenagers started a "Save Merriweather" campaign to protect the historic venue. One of the leaders, Ian Kennedy, promised not to shave his beard until Merriweather was safe.

The campaign was a success! A new promoter, Seth Hurwitz, who also owns the famous 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., took over. He believed the venue could be successful again.

A New Era of Music and Festivals

From 2009 to 2013, Merriweather hosted Virgin Mobile's FreeFest. This was a popular festival where people could get free tickets by doing charity work. Big acts like The Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, and Jack White performed for crowds of 50,000 people.

In 2014, a major plan was approved to renovate the pavilion. This ensured that Merriweather would continue to host concerts for many years to come.

Major Renovations

In 2016, ownership of the pavilion was transferred to a non-profit group led by "Save Merriweather" co-founder Ian Kennedy. At the ceremony, he finally shaved his beard after 13 years!

The venue then went through a $55 million renovation. This included building new backstage areas for artists, a swimming pool, and a bigger stage. New bathrooms and food stands were also added for the audience.

In 2018, during the final stages of raising the roof to give fans on the lawn a better view, the roof suddenly collapsed. No one was hurt, and the management team worked quickly to build a new one. The venue opened on time for its concert season that year.