Piscataway Park

Growing here are ancient woodlands, mixed with cultivated land. At the time of George Washington's residence of Mount Vernon, the area that is now the park had dwellings and other structures, but still provided a view of the river. In the mid-twentieth century, real estate developers sought to build high-rise apartments and offices on the site; additionally, public organizations proposed building a sewage treatment plant there. Such developments would ruin the view from Mount Vernon.

In 1961, Congress authorized the National Park Service to acquire the land for the park in order to preserve the vista from Mount Vernon, a view celebrated by visitors to the historic property dating back to Washington's time. The NPS was also able to secure scenic easements to prevent damage to the aesthetics of the site. The significance of the park is less due to inherent features of the natural or human landscape, but its role in conservation activity. Preservation of this particular intangible cultural heritage -- a vista -- was a new strategy of conservation, and at the time of its founding the park was the only National Park property that existed for the purpose of benefiting a privately-owned historic property.

An amusement park once also existed at the site. Eighteenth-century manor Marshall Hall (c. 1725) was moved to the park in 1975. It has since been damaged by fire and a truck collision. Visitors to the park can explore the Accokeek Boardwalk and see a variety of birds and animals in the wetlands and forests in the natural landscape.

The National Park Service maintains the park. The National Register of Historic Places recognized the park in 1979. Accokeek Archaeological Site, the National Colonial Farm, and Marshall Hall are listed separately on the National Register.

Goeldner, Paul. Piscataway Park, National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 12th 1979. Accessed June 4th 2020. https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/NR_PDFs/NR-18.pdf.

Maryland Historica; Trust. Piscataway Park, Maryland's National Register Properties. Accessed June 4th 2020. https://mht.maryland.gov/nr/NRDetail.aspx?NRID=20&COUNTY=Prince%20Georges&FROM=NRCountyList.aspx.