Cards were a large component to recreation in Greenbelt, MD through the Great Depression and World War II. Every member of the family played cards at one point or another in their day to day lives. A reason for this is the simple fact that there was no television for entertainment. There was radio, but it couldn't keep people occupied long enough to be considered the major source of recreation for families. Also, unlike radios, toys and other costly means of recreation, cards were very inexpensive and could last a pretty long time. "Prior to World War II, cards were about $0.10 - $0.25," stated Lee Shields, a docent at the Greenbelt Museum and long time member of the community, "...Every thing went up after the war." Still, the price of cards didn't esculate too much. A 1949 Sears Catalog from the Greenbelt Museum listed the price of a deck of cards from $0.85 - $1.98. This inexpensive form of entertainment that could keep families occupied for hours, was a great manifestation in the community of Greenbelt.

Everyone from grandmothers to infants played cards in some form. Docent, Lee Shields commented that the great thing about cards was their versatility. Cards were not only a form of recreation, but a teaching tool. Cards taught competition, strategy and critical thinking. They also taught about innovation, as children sought to create their own games through a deck of cards. Adults used cards as a means to communicate with their peers and neighbors. The sense of community in Greenbelt was partly inspired by cards.