Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm

https://www.nps.gov/oxhi/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxon_Cove_Park_and_Oxon_Hill_Farm Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Cove Farm is a national historic district that includes a living farm museum operated by the National Park Service, and located at Oxon Hill, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is part of National Capital Parks-East. The park provides an excellent resource for environmental studies, wildlife observing, fishing, and other recreational activities made possible by easy access to the Potomac River. Fourteen buildings and two structures are located in the historic district and associated with the property's sequential development as a plantation, an institutional agricultural complex, and a farm museum. The diverse history of Maryland and our national heritage can be experienced at Oxon Cove Park. Through hands-on programs and other activities, you can experience farm life and how its changed over time. Explore how the park evolved from a plantation home during the War of 1812, to a hospital farm, to the park you can visit today. While our mailing address is on Oxon Hill Road, the parking lot entrance to the park is on Bald Eagle Road. Bald Eagle Road can be accessed from the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95), as well as Indian Head Highway (MD-210) and Oxon Hill Road (MD-414). For detailed directions, please visit our website at http://www.nps.gov/oxhi/planyourvisit/directions.htm Visitor Barn The Visitor Barn at Oxon Hill Farm is the first stop you should make when visiting the park. Inside, you will find park brochures, Junior Ranger books, and a Park Ranger to answer all questions. The Visitor Barn also houses the park bookstore where you can purchase souvenirs and gifts for the family. While our mailing address is on Oxon Hill Road, the parking lot entrance to the park is on Bald Eagle Road. Bald Eagle Road can be accessed from the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95), as well as Indian Head Highway (MD-210) and Oxon Hill Road (MD-414). For detailed directions, please visit our website at http://www.nps.gov/oxhi/planyourvisit/directions.htm Cows Two brown cows graze in a field Two Jersey cows graze in their pasture Farm Sunrise Sunrise at the Farm Sunrise at the Farm Farrier Farrier repairs horse hooves Our farrier regularly maintains the hooves of the horses at Oxon Hill Farm. Pigs Young visitors meet the pigs. Young visitors meet the pigs at Oxon Hill Farm. Mount Welby A white brick two story building Mount Welby is the oldest structure on the farm, built around 1811 Oxon Cove Trail A paved walkway along a wooded shoreline The Oxon Cove trail takes hikers and bikers through forest and meadow ecosystems and along Oxon Cove A History of Healing Hidden from nearby highways and subdivisions by a screen of trees, Oxon Hill Farm is one of the few remaining agricultural landscapes in Prince George's County, Maryland. This place, where kids from the nearby city have encountered farm areas and learned how syrup is made, was also a witness to war and a landscape of healing. The house vibrated in the midst of the War of 1812, and later it was intended to be a place of calm for mentally ill patients and members of the poor. A man in an overcoat stands on a porch of a two-story farmhouse with shutters. American Eels in the Potomac Watershed American eels are found everywhere along the Atlantic Coast, but many aspects of these fish remain poorly understood. They are perhaps one of the most mysterious fish in the Potomac watershed. Hands hold a 2 to 3 foot long eel over a red container. Summer in the Parks (1968-1976) What began as a summer transportation program to send DC urban youth to Catoctin and Prince William Forest Parks in 1966 grew to a city-wide summer-long festival attracting residents to parks in every quadrant of the city. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the program took on an additional role to help save a city from destroying itself. A group of boys smiles for the camera Memorials for the Future Memorials for the Future, is a competition that aims to rethink the way we develop and experience memorials in Washington, D.C. Memorials for the Future Logo National Park Getaway: Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm Oxon Cove Park/Oxon Hill Farm is a peaceful 500-acre oasis within sight of our nation’s capital. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Oxon Hill, Maryland, the park offers opportunities for fishing and bird-watching, as well as miles of trails for hiking and biking. a ranger kneeling next to a goat Oxon Cove Park Cultural Landscape Oxon Hill Farm is a 289-acre cultural landscape within Oxon Cove Park, located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Although the park is only about eight miles south of the United States Capitol, it retains much of its historic agrarian character. It is also associated with St. Elizabeths Hospital, the first federally operated mental health facility. The central farm area contains a scattering of variously-sized structures, fencing, and a windmill. Brood X Periodical Cicadas FAQ Learn about the Brood X periodical cicadas that emerged in 2021 throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S. A perched periodical cicada with red eyes and orange wings Forest Regeneration 2020 What is the future of our forests? A look at forest regeneration capacity in National Capital Area national parks based on 2020 monitoring data. hand holding a leaflet on a white ash seedling National Capital PRISM and Invasive Species Since invasive species don’t recognize park boundaries, we need to work together with our partners, neighbors, and other federal and state entities to manage across borders. We can’t do it alone! a hand holds a rosette of green leaves over the water Ten Tips for Visiting Oxon Cove Park Planning a visit to Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm? Follow these ten tips for a fantastic farm day! A brown and white cow in a field Sea Level Rise in the DC Area Learn about current and projected rates of sea level rise in the greater DC area, based on local water level data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) A tall white cylinder attached to a wooden pier with Hains Point in the background. Beech Trees in the National Capital Area American beech (Fagus grandifolia), the most common tree species in National Capital Area parks, is currently facing the emerging threat of Beech Leaf Disease (BLD). A forest with healthy green leafed beech trees Forest Regeneration 2021 The latest look at forest regeneration capacity in National Capital Area national parks based on monitoring data from 2021. Green forest showing healthy understory of oak seedlings. Vines on Trees at Forest Edges Learn how climbing vines affect tree growth and mortality in National Capital Region park forests. This material was originally presented in a 2016 resource brief. Vines climb on trees at the forest edge at Rock Creek's Barnard Hill Park. Forest Regeneration 2022 Tree seedlings and small saplings are still in short supply in National Capital Region national parks. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2022. Sunlight filtering through a green forest with green seedlings covering most of the forest floor. Seep Shrimp Learn about the tiny creatures that live in our forest's seeps. three researchers in high-vis yellow gear search for shrimp in a snowy forest Forest Regeneration 2023 Tree seedlings and small saplings are slowly increasing in National Capital Region national parks. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2023. Three people stand in a forest, smiling and pointing to a large tree trunk between them. When Forests Come Down with a Bug: Forest Pests in the Greater DC Area Beech leaf disease, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, spongy moth, oak decline and oak wilt are all pests present in National Capital Region (NCR) park forests. Learn about their effects and spread based on NCR Inventory & Monitoring data, and get the heads up on elm zigzag sawfly and beech bark disease. A black and red insect sits on a leaf. Series: Amphibian Monitoring in the National Capital Region Amphibians are a crucial part of both aquatic and land ecosystems, and National Capital Region parks are home to at least 20 different amphibian species. Learn how amphibian populations are changing based on more than fifteen years of NPS monitoring by the National Capital Region Inventory & Monitoring Network. Northern red salamander on a patch of sun dappled moss NCP East Amphibian Monitoring 2023 National Capital Parks - East is hopping! Learn what recent amphibian monitoring data shows us about amphibian populations in the park! American toad (Bufo americanus) Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Freedmen's Schools in Oxon Hill Learn about schools for black children in Oxon Hill, Maryland after the Civil War. historic illustration of black children reading in a schoolroom Native Grapes Seven species of grapes are native to the National Capital Region. Learn how to tell them apart, where they grow, and how they benefit birds, bugs, and beasts alike. Multiple clusters of grapes hang off of a leafy vine. Forest Regeneration 2024 Forest regeneration in the National Capital Region continues to slowly improve, especially in parks that manage their deer populations. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2024. Forest with tall trees in the background and green saplings in the foreground

Oxon Hill Farm National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Oxon Cove Park Maryland Official Map and Guide S slow-baced but don't be footed, Oxon Hill ometimes life on Oxon Hill Farm seems Farm is a lively place. relaxed, as if the world fvad returned to a simpler t(me when afternoons are filled You can watch) theactivities or, better yet, you with exploring a field, reading under a tree, or can join in. Let the fanners know t h a t you sleeping in the tail grass. With the city ntpises want to help, and, depending on the time of in the distance, we often imagine that life on day or the season, you may get a chance to the farm is better than where we live now, with feed the chickens, make apple cider, husk and fewer worries and less stress. WM do farms crack corn, wjork in the garden, gather fresh < seem so special? Perhaps it is because they eggs, or milk a cow. Why not leave city life are closp to-nature and provide for our basic behind for a day? Try your hand at farming needs. Animals born on farms give us milk, as it has been done at Oxon Hill for centuries. eggs, and meat. Grains and vegetables grown on farms; supply us with-ah abundance of other foods. What do you see when you look Since the 1600s the Oxon Hill area has attractaround? Perhaps you see sheep or horses nibed men and women who recognized its agribling at blades of grass, chickens takcultural potential. Estates ing a dust bath, or cows chewing . . . .. „ raised tobacco, catt,e and chewing. It may appear -" -«•" * i ^ 5 > ^ r * * ^ a l " v " ' > wheat, corn, i c cs n o I and fruit as cash crops for nearby developing urban areas. Much of the labor for these early plantations was provided by slaves. Later the area was divided into smaller working farms. In 1891 the U.S. Government acquired the land and established a farm for St. Elizabeths • Hospital. Patients worked on the farm for therapy and to grow their own food. In the mid1960s the farm was entrusted to the National Park Service, and in 1967 Oxon Hill Farm welcomed its first visitors. The park opened its gates not as a farm museum or a petting zoo but as a working farm that represented the time when horsepower still came directly from horses. The success of Oxon Hill Farm, as with all small farms, reflects an understanding of agriculture and animals, W love of independence, and a willingness to work hard. Sunlight, Soil, anc| Seasons Every season at Oxon Hill Farm demands its own special activities. Animals and plants do not use human clocks, but the length of daylight hours and natural biological processes spur them into action. Early spring is the time of birth, when baby lambs, goats, calves, pigs, and chicks make a noisy entrance into the world. The increased sunlight removes the winter's chill from the soil and signals the spring planting season. During this busy time of year the farmers have little time to spare. They plow the fields, plant crops, and get ready for a long growing season. Raising successful crops requires careful attention to timing. The clearly defined seasons offer farmers a narrow period when seeds must be planted and the mature plants harvested. Cooperative weather and long hours of hard work ensure a winter's supply of, grains and hay for the animals and vegetables for the farmers. You can see real horsepower in action during these busy seasons. In spring the horses plow, disc, and harrow the fields for planting. At harvest time they haul the crops to storage. These working horses on Oxon Hill Farm, as all draft horses, are different than horses used for riding. Their wide chests, broad sloping shoulders, slower metabolism, and dense muscle structure give them the power to pull equipment with ease. The 2-horse team can plow 2 acres or disc 10 acres per day. "Come on down, we'll put you to work" Why dream about helping on a f a r m ? C o m e , j o i n t h e f u n . Feel t h e s k i n of a c o w a n d t h e w a r m t h of her fresh milk. Listen t o c h i c k e n s c l u c J ^ g j j p c L ^ t f a t s bleatjnjg. Smell t h e sweet aroma of horses apd hay/j A Safe Farm Visit "Horseshoes are not hats" is a strange expression but think about it. A horseshoe is as large as a toddler's head, and a kicking horse can hit with a force hard enough to break ribs or crack a child's skull. Always supervise your children and be cautious around farm animals. Hazards on a farm are different from those in a city, but they can be just as painful and dangerous. To protect the farm and to help make your visit safe, please observe these regulations. ¥ Animals can be frightened if someone yells or pokes at them. They may defend themselves by kicking, biting, shoving with their heads, or stepping on you. Always move slowly with no loud noises. Stay out of the animals' stalls and pens. Never walk behind or under a hoofed animal. ¥ Do not feed the animals. Keep your hands away from their mouths; they may bite. ¥ Do not touch any animal unless one of the farmers