Merriweather Post Pavilion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2017 (prior to renovation)
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
Construction
Opened	1967
Renovated	2015–2016, 2018
Architect	Gehry, Walsh, & O'Malley

Merriweather Post Pavilion is a cool outdoor concert place in Columbia, Maryland. It's located in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, a big park area. This park is part of Columbia, which is a specially planned community.

Many people think Merriweather Post Pavilion is one of the best places to see a concert. In 2010, Billboard magazine said it was the second best outdoor music venue in the United States. Later, in 2013, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the fourth best. It's a really popular spot for music lovers!

History of Merriweather Post Pavilion

How Merriweather Post Pavilion Started

The Merriweather Post Pavilion was built for the new town of Columbia. This town was a big project by the Rouse Company. The first design for the venue was not approved. So, a famous architect named Frank Gehry redesigned it. He is known for his unique and bold building styles. The pavilion opened in 1967. It was built on land that was once part of a large estate called Oakland Manor.

The venue is named after Marjorie Merriweather Post. She was a very important American businesswoman. She gave a lot of money to support the National Symphony Orchestra. The pavilion was first meant to be a summer home for this orchestra. But soon, it became a place for popular music concerts. Many legendary bands played there. These included Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead, and The Who.

The grand opening was on July 14, 1967. Even the Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, came to a special show. It rained so much that the orchestra members got wet! The orchestra later had money problems. In 1968, some political events happened there. Presidential candidates George Wallace and Eugene McCarthy held big rallies.

On May 25, 1969, The Who and Led Zeppelin played on the same stage. This was the only time they did this. About 20,000 people came to see them. Led Zeppelin played their song "Whole Lotta Love" live for only the second time. It's said that Led Zeppelin played for too long. The Who's crew then turned off their sound!

Before the 1970 concert season, more seats were added. This made room for 1,800 more people. This allowed them to book big shows, like a seven-night run with Tom Jones. Gladys Knight & the Pips opened for him.

Pavillion seats prior to renovation

In 1970, the manager of Columbia stopped booking rock groups. This happened after some problems at a Steppenwolf concert. The Nederlander Organization started managing the venue in 1971. By 1972, the music changed from symphonies to rock. Some people worried about rock concerts. In 1974, rock music was even banned for a short time. Artists like Alice Cooper and Grateful Dead were not allowed to play.

In 1977, Jimmy Buffett played at Merriweather for the first time. He has played there 42 times, more than any other artist! In 1978 and 1980, President Jimmy Carter even joined Willie Nelson on stage. They sang "Georgia on My Mind" together.

In 1999, a company called SFX bought the right to manage the concerts.

Merriweather Post Pavilion in the 21st Century

Merriweather Post Pavillion from the lawn.

Merriweather lawn after 2018 renovations

Pavillion after 2018 renovation, from the Skybar

Pavillion after 2018 renovation, from the Skylawn

Merch desks after renovation

Restroom barn

Renovated food and drink stands

Renovated food and drink stands and Skylawn

Merriweather at night after 2018 renovations

In 2003, a company wanted to build new things around the pavilion. This plan threatened to close Merriweather. Local teens and musicians started a "Save Merriweather" campaign. They worked hard to keep the concert venue open. One of them, Ian Kennedy, even promised not to shave his beard until the pavilion was safe!

As the "Save Merriweather" campaign grew, the company offered to sell the pavilion. They wanted it to become a smaller, indoor theater. But then, I.M.P., which owns the 9:30 Club, became the new concert promoter.

In 2010, a plan for downtown Columbia was approved. It said that the developer, Howard Hughes Corporation, had to fix up Merriweather. This had to happen before they could build more in Columbia. In 2014, the county helped with the renovation costs. They gave a grant of $9.5 million.

Virgin Mobile's FreeFest was held at Merriweather for five years. From 2009 to 2013, these festivals were free to attend. People just had to do good deeds in their community. VIP tickets were also sold, and the money went to help homeless youth. About 50,000 people came each year. Famous people like Richard Branson and bands like Jack White and The Black Keys performed.

The land around Merriweather was used for parks and festivals. It also hosted Christmas light displays. But the owner, Howard Hughes Corp, planned a big project called "Crescent." This project would build 2,100 homes and many office buildings. Merriweather Post Pavilion brings in many visitors. About 90% of concertgoers come from outside Howard County.

In 2015, plans for an $8.4 million renovation were approved. These plans included new food stands and updated restrooms.

On November 30, 2016, the Howard Hughes Corporation gave Merriweather Post Pavilion to a non-profit group. This group was the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission. Ian Kennedy, who helped start "Save Merriweather," leads this group. At the ceremony, he finally shaved his beard! He had been growing it for 13 years.

2017 was Merriweather Post Pavilion's 50th season! I.M.P. signed a new 40-year lease to keep running the venue until 2057. The celebration continued with $55 million in renovations. They added 15,000 square feet of dressing rooms and backstage areas. There's even a swimming pool and dining room! The stage was made bigger, and a spinning stage was added. New bathrooms and food stands were built for visitors. There's also a new VIP rooftop bar.

To honor its history, many famous artists came back in 2017. These included Paul Simon, Sarah McLachlan, and Santana. A special anniversary show featured Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Father John Misty, and Grace Potter.

On January 13, 2018, the roof over the seats collapsed. This happened while they were raising the roof by 20 feet to improve views. But the management quickly said they would replace it. The venue opened as planned for its 2018 concert season.

Events at Merriweather Post Pavilion

More About Merriweather

• List of contemporary amphitheatres
• List of works by Frank Gehry
• Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods