About Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring is part of the Washington, D.C., metro area, known for its close proximity to our Nation's Capitol. Within the revitalized and lively downtown, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center draws visitors to it state-of-the-art cinematic experience. Every June, the theatre hosts an international film festival that attracts an audience of 15,000. For music-lovers, a Jazz Festival occurs each fall. The Chamber of Commerce website offers further details. After visiting downtown, tourists should be sure to visit the sights of Washington, D.C., easily accessible by Metro Subway from Silver Spring. Many city residents work in the healthcare industry, since a variety of medical companies have established themselves in Silver Spring due to the close proximity to U.S. Federal Drug Administration headquarters. Students attend well-regarded Montgomery County public schools. The city first received its unusual name when early settler Francis Preston Blair chased his lost horse in 1842. He caught up to the wayward animal at a spring flecked with mica, and he pronounced the spot "silver spring."
