Welcome to Bethesda, MD
Bethesda is northwest of Washington and was named after the Bethesda Meeting House, a c. 1820 church, which was later rebuilt in 1850 in the Greek Revival style. After World War II, the Naval Hospital and the National Institutes of Health were established, attracting large numbers of civil servants to the area. Today, the vibrant downtown streets of Bethesda offer a variety of restaurants, outdoor activities, and local shops, while the comforts of a suburban quiet setting are just minutes away.