The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra turns 75 this season.

Tanglewood sits on 210 acres of lawns and meadows that were donated by the late Mary Aspinwall Tappan in 1936.
The land was once part of her family’s summer estate.

In 1937 the BSO performed under a massive tent and the following year a fan-shaped, open-aired venue dubbed “The Shed” was built.

Program from the BSO's first concert at Tanglewood, August 5, 1937 (BSO Archives)

A banner advertising the 1939 Berkshire Symphonic Festival (BSO Archives)

The Shed seats over 5,000 and a spacious lawn surrounds it where other attendees can picnic and hear music.
Yours truly attended one of those concerts this summer.
We heard the Boston Pops perform with Broadway legend Bernadette Peters.

Tanglewood today, July 2012

April of MVG & Dianne