July 14 - On this day in Howard County history – In 1967 Merriweather Post Pavillion opened

On July 14, 1967, Merriweather Post Pavilion opened in Columbia with a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra. Those in attendance included Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Columbia founder James Rouse, and pavilion namesake Marjorie Merriweather Post. The amphitheater was intended to serve as the summer home of the National Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Post, heiress to the Post cereal fortune, was a wealthy businesswoman and Washington socialite who was active with the National Symphony.  It was hoped that by naming the pavilion for her that she would make a donation to it, but one never materialized.

The amphitheater was developed by The Rouse Company. It was designed by architects Frank Gehry (who would later achieve world acclaim) and David O’Malley. The pavilion originally had 3,000 covered seats and space on the adjoining lawn for 5,000 more. It has undergone numerous additions and renovations through the years, including a 1970 addition that added 2,000 covered seats. Extensive renovations in 2017-2018 included raising the pavilion roof, which improved sight lines from the lawn. It now has a capacity of about 19,000.

Although Merriweather Post Pavillion was initially expected to be anchored by a classical music orchestra, a wide variety of entertainment was always offered. Rock concerts proved to be controversial. For example, the president of the Howard High School P.T.A. objected that an August 1968 concert given by The Doors brought out “hippies”, alcohol and drugs, and that “revolutionary and pornographic” literature had been sold. Despite opposition, by 1970, with attendance at classical music concerts in steep decline, the Post Pavilion primarily became a venue for rock concerts, with country, soul and pop music and theatrical performances mixed in. It has since become a legendary concert venue that has been played by countless major performers, the names of whom are too long to list here.

For decades Merriweather Post Pavilion has served another very important role: it has hosted local high school graduation ceremonies.

By Jerry Ueckermann

Merriweather Post Pavilion, HCHS Collection