I am the writer and photographer for National Park Planner and I visited Piscataway Park in April 2016. The park is located about ten miles south of Alexandria, Virginia, on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Its roots go back to 1955 when Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association member Frances Bolton purchased a farm on the Potomac River across from Mount Vernon and then donated it to form the Accokeek Foundation in 1957. Members then started a campaign to purchase the adjacent land along a six-mile stretch of shoreline to keep the view from Mount Vernon just as it was when George Washington lived there. This led to the involvement of the National Park Service and the eventual creation of Piscataway Park in 1961 (it was not officially open to the pubic until 1968). It was the first and only National Park unit created to protect a vista.
Just a great mish-mash of interesting ideas. Some environmentalism, some re-enactment of a poor tobacco farm from the colonial period in Southern Maryland, some heritage animals and plants (trees, gardens) for agriculture, permaculture; fishing, boating, picnic facilities. An education center, a visitor center, an eating pavilion with a large fireplace and slate roof.
This national park is beautiful, educational, and FREE. The colonial reenactors are friendly and informative, and the grounds really are lovely in all seasons. The park focuses on breeding heritage farm animals, so the location is focused on conservation as well as education. A must-visit!
The only other places of interest to the public are the Marshall Hall area on the western side of the park, where you will find a boat ramp and a historic mansion ruin, and Farmington Landing on the eastern side, a popular fishing hole and canoe launch area. A fourth section is detached from the main park property and located across Piscataway Creek near Fort Washington Park (also a National Park unit). This section hosts the Fort Washington Marina and a short hiking trail.
The main attraction at Piscataway Park is the National Colonial Farm, a farm still run as if it were 1770. This is located in the central area of the park. In addition to cultivated fields and farm animals are six short hiking trails, a fishing pier, and a boat dock for those arriving to the park by boat. Another short trail lies just east of the farm.
This is an awsome park
For photos and complete information on visiting Piscataway Park, see the National Park Planner web page (npplan).
I really really love this hidden gem of a park. Very secluded, very quiet. Wonderful views of the water.
The park covers around 4500 acres, but very little of this is developed for tourists, with two-thirds still in private hands. When it was established, people had residences within the park boundaries and the Accokeek Foundation was managing the National Colonial Farm, so those already in the park were permitted to stay, but no new development can take place. Only four small areas are actively managed by the National Park Service or partner organizations. Piscataway Park is mainly of interest to local Maryland and Virginia residents and is not a place on the “To See” list of tourists coming to the Washington D. C. area from around the world.
National Colonial Farm At Piscataway Park is a US Park based in Accokeek, Maryland. National Colonial Farm At Piscataway Park is located at 3400 Bryan Point Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607, USA.
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