Piscataway

Piscataway Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Piscataway Park Maryland What is Piscataway Park? It's where land meets water and present meets past along the tidal Potomac River in one of the nation's earliest public-private preservation achievements. Piscataway Park is home-grown. In the 1950s local residents saw that encroaching development threatened the natural beauty across the river from George Washington's Mount Vernon. Alice Ferguson, Frances Payne Bolton, and others laid the groundwork for a new kind of park where open space is protected and enjoyed by the public. Catch of the day. Below: View from Mount Vernon. Established in 1961, Piscataway Park today covers some 5,000 acres and stretches for six miles along the river from Piscataway Creek to Marshall Hall. The National Park Service, Alice Ferguson Foundation, Accokeek Foundation, local and state agencies, and many citizens work together to ensure that tranquil scenery, wildlife habitat, and park goers can coexist. View of the marsh from the boardwalk. Kayaks at Fort Washington Marina. GETTY IMAGES Piscataway Park is Green Space .« Wetlands, woods, meadows, and streams—remnants of old Prince George's County— are reached by back roads, trails, boardwalks, and waterways. With varied habitats in a relatively small area, Piscataway is ideal for birding. In open areas look for colorful songbirds and bald eagles, which nest along the river. Marshy areas are homes or rest stops for ospreys, great blue herons, mallards, wood ducks, and other waterfowl. George Washington said of his beloved Mount Vernon, "No estate m Umteu America is more pleasantly situated than this." Today the serene green of the Maryland shoreline across the Potomac River looks much as it did in Washington's time, thanks to Piscataway Park. You can sometimes see beavers gliding through the water near their dam. Whitetailed deer, raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits are common sights, while red foxes, moles, and shrews tend to stay hidden. Turtles bask on rock "islands" in calm water. Snakes hunt for mice, frogs, and other small prey. Swallowtail butterfly. Above left: Wild geranium. Cast a line for dozens of fish species in the park's creeks, marshes, and river waters. Piscataway Creek is one of the Washington area's premier bass fishing spots. Other catches include blue catfish, hickory shad, longnose gar, black crappie, American eel, pumpkinseed, bluegill, brown bullhead, white perch, yellow perch, and common carp. Piscataway Park Brings the Past to Life Across the river is Mount Vernon, home of George and Martha Washington. In the southwestern part of the park is Marshall Hall, another 1700s plantation that once covered thousands of acres. You can see the remains of the 1730s manor house, the Marshall family cemetery, and the site of the 1950s-60s amusement park. People have lived on these shores for thousands of years. Piscataway Indians occupied villages from the Anacostia River stretching southward into Charles and St. Mary's counties. Their regional influence continues today in place names like "Potomac" and "Accokeek," land use patterns, and transportation routes. Piscataway people still live in southern Maryland and this park is a sacred part of their homeland. They often gather here to celebrate their heritage and pass on traditions to the next generation. Most farmers were not rich—just ordinary folks. The National Colonial Farm, an outdoor living history museum, was established in 1957 to depict the life of typical tobacco planters in the 1770s. The Piscataway Indians first encountered Europeans in 1608 when Capt. John Smith's expedition sailed up the Potomac. Soon the Piscataway were conducting business—and sometimes fighting—with 'the increasing numbers of English traders and settlers. By the 1700s farms and plantations lined the Potomac. As Washington, D.C., grew in the 20th century, so did Prince George's County. Yet, thanks to the local citizens who pushed to establish this park, you can connect with the past in this rural refuge. From left: Coastal Algonquian man, ca. 1590; Piscataway Indian Nation Chief Turkey Tayac; National Colonial Farm volunteer, dressed as an enslaved worker, harvests tobacco; Marshall Hall before the 1981 fire. Below: Fishing pier. < I PISCATAWAY INDIAN NATION % < o c Your Day at Piscataway Park N a t i o n a l Colonial Farm a n d Ecosystem Farm This reconstructed 1770s farmstead shows w h a t life was like f o r typical southern Maryland tobacco planters. Explore t h e d w e l l i n g , tobacco barn, smokehouse, kitchen, and crop fields. Historic varieties of field crops like Orinoco tobacco, Virginia Gourdseed corn, and Red May w h e a t are g r o w n seasonally and produce heirloom seed stock. Costumed interpreters demonstrate Colonial-era sewing, cooking, spinning, dyeing, c a n d l e m a k i n g , gardening, w o o d w o r k i n g , and playing games. Look i n t o agriculture's f u t u r e at t h e nearby Ecosystem Farm, w h e r e f a r m ers practice sustainable use of natural resources. Local residents can buy shares of t h e Ecosystem Farm's produce. M a n aged by t h e Accokeek Foundation. The visitor center is at 3400 Bryan Point Rd., Accokeek, M D 20607; 301-283-2113; w w w . accokeek.org. Autumn at the conservation pond. Left: Heirloom beets, squash, Swiss chard, and other produce. Right: marsh boardwalk and rose of Sharon. ABOVE AND RIGHT— NPS/WILUAM CLARK Prince George's County on-road bicycling r o u t e passes t h r o u g h t h e park; t h e r o u t e is s h o w n in y e l l o w on t h e map below. Farmington Landing o n Piscat a w a y Creek is a q u i e t place t o launch small craft. To launch larger boats o n a concrete ramp, g o t o Marshall Hall. Rent canoes or kayaks at t h e Fort W a s h i n g t o n Marina. Local trails h u g t h e shoreline a l o n g Piscataway Creek and t h e Potomac River. A 0.5-mile b o a r d w a l k crosses t h e marsh east o f National Colonial Farm. Hard Bargain Farm Learn while you have f u n ! Environmental education programs f o r elementary and middle school students feature hands-on activities and o u t d o o r investigations. By observing wildlife habitats, students learn t o appreciate t h e ways in w h i c h humans and the natural w o r l d are interconnected. Several of t h e buildings use innovative / l ~ reen technology'. Not open to the ^ e n era/ public; open to school groups by reservation only. M a n a g e d by t h e Alice Ferguson Foundation, 2001 Bryan Point Rd., Accokeek, M D 20607; 301-292-5665; www.fergusonfoundation.org. Roads and Trails Not far f r o m t h e main h i g h w a y are back roads f o r scenic driving or bicycling. The There is a fishing pier at National Colonial Farm. A Maryland state fishing license is required f o r persons 16 and older. For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n call 1-800-918-2870 or visit www.dnr.state.md.us. Piscataway Parks roads and trails have something for everyone: birding, bicycling, photography, hiking, scenic drives, and quiet relaxation. On t h e W a t e r Be sure t o w e a r a certified life jacket at all times w h e n y o u ' r e o n t h e water. S w i m m i n g in t h e river a n d creeks is dangerous and is n o t r e c o m m e n d e d . Bass fishing tournament USFWS / LAVONDA WALTON More Information For a Safe Visit M u c h land w i t h i n Piscataway Park is p r i vately o w n e d . Respect owners' privacy. • Stay o n trails and boardwalks, particularly w h e n near water. • All cultural and natural objects are protected by federal law. Do n o t d a m a g e or remove t h e m . • This is a trash-free park; whatever you carry in, be sure t o carry out. • For firearms regulations, visit the park website. Piscataway Park's grounds are open d a w n t o dusk every day of t h e year. Partner sites have their o w n o p e r a t i n g hours and fees; contact individual sites f o r i n f o r m a t i o n . Service animals are w e l c o m e in t h e park. Our Partners The Accokeek Foundation, f o u n d e d in 1957 t o preserve the shoreline across f r o m M o u n t Vernon, operates t h e National Colonial Farm and t h e Ecosystem Farm. www.accokeek.org This is one o f over 390 parks in t h e National Park System. To learn more, visit www.nps.gov. Established in 1954, t h e Alice Ferguson Foundation helps foster an appreciation of t h e natural and cultural heritage o f t h e Potomac watershed. www.fergusonfoundation.org AGPO:2010—357.940/80557 Printed on recycled paper. Beaver building dam (above). Canvasback duck (top). ^ f Directions to National Colonial Farm Visitor Center From I-495: Take Exit 3 to Indian Head Hwy. (Md. Rte. 210 South), go 9.2 miles. Pass Farmington Rd. and take a right at the next stoplight onto Livingston Rd. (look for B&J Carryout). Drive one block and turn right on Biddle Rd. At the stop sign, turn left on Bryan Point Rd. and follow 3.5 miles to the end. Turn right into the visitor parking lot. Volunteers teach colonial-era cooking skills at National Colonial Farm ACCOKEEK FOUNDATION Piscataway Park c/o Fort W a s h i n g t o n Park 13551 Fort W a s h i n g t o n Rd. Fort W a s h i n g t o n , M D 20744 301-763-4600 www.nps.gov/pisc