This is the twentieth diary in my 'Expanding the National Parks' series. My Previous Diaries are linked below, starting with Alabama
1.Alabama
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2 Alaska
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3 Arizona
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4 Arkansas
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5 California
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6 Colorado
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7 Connecticut
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8 Delaware
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9 Florida
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10 Georgia
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11 Hawaii
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12 Idaho
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13 Illinois
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14 Indiana
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15 Iowa
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16 Kansas
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17 Kentucky
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18 Louisiana
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19 Maine
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This week, I'm visiting Maryland. Maryland is a small state, covering less than 10000 sq miles in land area. 2.8% of the state is protected federally, good for 34th in the country, just behind South Carolina and just ahead of North Dakota. Maryland currently has 2 national monuments, 5 Wildlife Refuges, and 15 historic sites/ other NPS units. I will be proposing additions to Maryland's monuments ledger.Each site I list will have a link to a picture associated with that site.
This is the twentieth diary in my 'Expanding the National Parks' series. This week, I'm visiting Maryland. Maryland is a small state, covering less than 10000 sq miles in land area. 2.8% of the state is protected federally, good for 34th in the country, just behind South Carolina and just ahead of North Dakota. Maryland currently has 2 national monuments, 5 Wildlife Refuges, and 15 historic sites/ other NPS units. I will be proposing additions to Maryland's monuments ledger.Each site I list will have a link to a picture associated with that site.
Maryland
Total Area 12 407 sq miles
Land Area 9 707 sq miles
Water Area 2 700 sq miles
Coastline 31 miles
Additional monuments-3
ADDITIONAL MONUMENTS-3
* Chesapeake Bay Estimated area 2 million acres (in MD and VA)
http://msa.maryland.gov/...
(Above image by Diane F Evartt)
A seagull sits on a pier within Chesapeake Bay in the above image. The designation
would set aside the bay in both Maryland and Virginia as a marine monument. the bay covers over 3200 sq miles, slightly more than half (1700 sq miles ), lie in Maryland. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America, and its watershed stretches over 60000 miles into 6 states. Named after the Algonquin name "Chesepiook' meaning ' great Shellfish bay' in reference to the crabs oysters and clams which were in great abundance at the time of the colony's founding.
* Maryland Coastal Estimated area 20000 acres
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/...
The above link showcases the coastline of Maryland, including the Chesapeake Bay, and coastal Bay areas.
Would preserve open land within 10 miles of the coastline, along the states 31 mile long coastline on the Atlantic side. only one county in the state- Worchester, makes up the Atlantic portion of the states coastline.
* Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Estimated area 20000 acres( in MD DC and WV)
http://www.nps.gov/...
One of the many lockhouses within the park that once served the lift locks areas of the canal
Would re-designate the COC as a national monument, restoring it to the status it had from 1961 to 1971. the canal was the successor to the canals built along the Potomac River by the Potowmack Company, which tried to make real a goal by George Washington to connect the eastern colonies to the western frontier. the canal was obsolete by the time it was completed in 1850 (its original end was meant to be Pittsburgh, but it only finished up to Cumberland WV), and was operated until 1924, and was allowed to fall into neglect until 1938 when purchased by the federal government. it was declared a national monument in 1961 by President Eisenhower in one of his last acts of office, and was re-designated a historic park by Congress.
EXISTING UNITS
NATIONAL MONUMENTS-2
* Fort McHenry Established 1925 Covers 43 acres
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The famous Star Spangled Banner is shown in the above image
The only site in the NPS designated as a historic Shrine, Fort McHenry was built on the site of a previous fort - Fort Whetstone, which had been built in 1776. Named after Maryland native and Constitution signer James McHenry , the fort withstood bombardment from the British during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the Star Spangled Banner. it served as a prison for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, as well as Maryland politicians, including the mayor of Baltimore, who were imprisoned after Lincoln suspended habeus corpus during the Civil War.the fort was designated as a national park in 1925, but was re-designated in 1939 as a monument and historic shrine. over 640000 people visited the monument in 2011
* Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Established 2013 Covers 11750 acres
http://www.nps.gov/...
A picture of Tubman, taken in 1895
One of five monuments declared by President Obama in March 2013, this monument chronicles the life of famed Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman. the monument includes many areas that were significant to Tubman's life. While the year of Tubman's birth is in dispute (she claimed at various points 1820, 1822 and 1825) and her exact place of birth is unclear, she was born somewhere in Dorchester county in Maryland.over the course of several years and at great personal risk, Tubman made 13 different trips into the South to rescue enslaved family and other slaves, rescuing more than 70. during the Civil War she served as a spy, and after the war pushed for the right to vote for woman. she died in 1913 in a home for elderly African-Americans named for her at around the age of 91.
WILDLIFE REFUGES-5
* Blackwater Established 1933 Covers 27000 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
The largest and oldest of Maryland's five refuges,Blackwater surrounds the Blackwater River and is home to 35000 geese and 15000 ducks, as well is home to the Delmarva fox squirrel, bald eagles and peregrine falcon. the refuge is an important stopover on the Atlantic Flyway.
* Eastern Neck Established 1962 Covers 2286 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
(credit to Jonathan Priday)
a marker identifies the Eastern Neck WR in the Above picture.
Located in the eastern part of the state, Eastern Neck consists of an island located at the confluence of Chesapeake Bay and the Chester River. The refuge was the site of one of the first settlements in Maryland. It was settled in 1650 by Joseph Wickes, who was granted 800 aces on the island. Wickes built a mansion, which was later named Wickliffe. the mansion remained in the family until 1902 when the family sold their property and land, and was torn down in 1935 to make room for residence house. the island was divided into hunting preserves and an effort was made in the 1950s to develop the island, and the FWS bought the island to preserve it over a period from 1962-67. Today the refuges gets more than 70000 visitors a year, making it one of Maryland's most visited open spaces.
* Martin Established 1954 Covers 4548 acres (in MD and VA)
http://www.fws.gov/...
Part of the tidal marsh in the refuge is shown above.
Named after Glenn Martin, who donated most of the land in the refuge to the government, Martin is part of both the Chesapeake Islands Refuges (Which include Barren Island, Bishops Head and Spring Island) and Chesapeake Marshlands WR Complex, which includes Blackwater and Susquehanna River WRs. the refuge is closed to the public to protect the native wildlife, which includes the largest colony of brown pelicans in the state.
* Patuxent Research Established 1936 Covers 12800 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
a picture of a scarlet Tanager, one of the the refuges many resident birds, is shown above.
Set aside by President Franklin Roosevelt, Patuxent is the only refuge in the system dedicated to wildlife research. the refuge is located on land previously owned by the departments of Agriculture and Defense, and is divided into three tracts : North, Central and South. Of those areas, only the North tract , and the areas around the National Wildlife Visitor Center in the South Tract are open to the public.
* Susquehanna Established 1940 Covers 4 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
An image of Battery Island, the last surviving part of Susquehanna WR is shown above.
The 4th-smallest refuge in the system (Behind Millie Lacs WR in Minnesota, Neches River WR in Texas, and Green Bay WR) Susquehanna was originally much larger, covering more than 13300 acres of water when it was first set aside by President Roosevelt in 1940 and was once a prime habitat for large numbers of wigeons and redhead ducks. Development above the nearby Conowingo dam, changed the quality of the water and habitat in the area, and the impact from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 destroyed what was left of the habitat. nearly all the of refuges water area was turned over to Maryland in 1978, leaving battery island as the last remnant of the former refuge. to protect the island, the refuge is closed to the public.
HISTORIC SITES AND OTHER NPS UNITS-15
* Antietam NB Established 1890 Covers 3230 aces
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Bloody Lane, a part of Antietam Battlefield , is shown above
One of the first five Civil War battlefields to be protected, Antietam was one of the most important battles in the war, as the result of the battle ( considered a Union victory) allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. the battle resulted in the defeat of Lees northward thrust into the North, and provided a much needed boost, as the South was widely regarded as winning the war up to that point. The battlefield has been preserved nearly in the state it was in in 1862, as conservation efforts to protect the battlefield, like those at Gettysburg, were successful. Today, over 330000 visitors visit the site every year.
* Assateague Island NS Established 1965 Covers 41320 acres (in MD and VA)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
A group of Assateague horses run on the beach in the above photo
Famed for its wild horses and white sand beaches, Assateague Seashore covers half of Assateague Island with most of it-called Sinepuxent- lying on the Maryland side of the island, which covers two-thirds of the island. a small section - called Chincoteague- lies in Virginia, and both sections have herds of wild ponies. the island was originally going to be developed and turned into a community called Ocean Beach on the Maryland side. but a devastating nor-easter (called the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962) destroyed the planned community and the area instead became part of the national seashore. Today 2.1 million people visit the park every year.
* Catoctin Mountain Park Established 1954 Covers 6154 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Chimney Rock in Catoctin Park is seem in the Above Image
First Established as a Recreational Demonstration Area in the 1930s, Catoctlin was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp and the Works Progress Administration. The Park was split and divided in 1954 with the southern portion becoming Cunningham Falls State Park. Effort were made in the early 2000s to make the park into a recreational Area, but those bills failed to pass the House. over 260000 visitors visited the park in 2011.
* Chesapeake Bay ERR Established 1985 Covers 6249 acres
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/...
Part of the Estuary is shown of the above photo.
Divided into three sections Otter Point Creek, Jug Bay and Monie Bay, and managed by Marylands DNR, this reserve protects freshwater and saltwater marshes around Chesapeake Bay within Maryland's borders.
* Chesapeake Bay Networks Established 1998 Covers 100000 acres (in MD, DC , DE, NY, PA, VA, and WV)
http://www.nps.gov/...
a boater rides into a dock in Chesapeake Bay
Consisting of over 160 sites stretching from Virginia to New York, the Gateways extend the entire length of the Bays Watershed. While not a park, the system is managed by the Park Service, in tandem, with state and private owners.
* Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP Established 1938 Covers 19586 acres (in MD and DC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
a monument marking the C And O Canal is shown in the Above picture
Originally designed to reach Pittsburgh from Dc, the C And O Canal was in service for 74 years until was abandoned in the 19. the canal was bought by the federal government and declared a national monument in 1961 by President Eisenhower and re-designated at a historic park in 1972 by Congress.
* Clara Barton NHS Established 1974 Covers 9 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
The Clara Barton House, home to the founder of the Red Cross until her death in 1912, is shown above.
built from woods salvaged from Red Cross stations in Johnston, Pennsylvania to service those displaced from the 1889 flood, the house was Claras home from 1897-1912 and was a early headquarters to the Red Cross. The house was designated as an historic site by Congress in 1974 and it was restored to what it looked like in the early 1900s.
* Fort Foote Park Established 1945 Covers 70 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
a drawing of Fort Foote as looked during the Civil War
Named after Admiral Andrew H Foote, who died during the Civil War, Fort Foote was built to protect Washington from Confederate attack, and construction was overseen by William Seward Jr , son of the Secretary of State. The Fort was finished in June of 1865, after the war ended. most forts built around washington wre returned to the owners of the land they were built on, but Foote was one of the few retained by the government. The fort was abandoned in 1878, used as an triaining area for an engineering school, and finally was protected as part of the DC area parks after World War II.
* Fort Washington Park Established 1946 Covers 341 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
a View of the fort from across the Potomac
Originally built to protect Washington during the War of 1812, the original fort was completed in 1809 and called Fort Warburton, but was destroyed by its defenders during a British assault. The current fort was built in 1824 and served as the only defense of the city until the Civil War, when Fort Foote and other forts were constructed. After the war the post was abandoned in 1875 and lay unoccupied until 1891. During World War I it was used as a staging for troops destined for France, and during the Depression the CCC built a barracks on the ground. After serving as the base for the Army's Adjunct Generals School during World War II, the fort was turned over to the Park Service in 1946 and became part of the DC-area park system. Over 30000 people visited the fort in 2005.
* Glen Echo Park Established 1971 Covers 10 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
the neon lights entrance to the park is shown above.
Built in 1891 originally as a National Chautuaqua Assembly Hall and operated as an amusement park until 1968. The Park Service bought the park in 1971 and has since restored some of the former amusement park rides. today the park is managed by a collaboration between the Park Service, Montogmoery County and the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. between 400-500 000 visitors visit each year.
* Greenbelt Park Established 1950 Covers 1176 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Entrance sign at Greenbelt Park
Lying 10 miles northeast of DC, the park was originally designed as open space for the nearby city of Greenbelt, Maryland. the Park Service bought the land in 1950 along with the land which which form the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, which goes through the park and divides it into a western and eastern section. the park is also bordered on the northeast by the Beltway.
* Hampton NHS Established 1948 Covers 62 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Hampton Mansion, part of the historic site, is shown above.'
the first site in the country designated as an historic site by the Park Service in 1948, Hampton protects the remnants of property once owned by Ridgely family, which once covered 25000 acres. the mansion, built in 1790, was the largest private home in America at the time of its completion. Hampton was managed by Maryland Preservation upon opening to the public as a historic site in 1949 until 1979 when the NPS bought it.Hampton underwent an extensive renovation from 2005-7 where modern security, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems were installed in the house, while the exterior and grounds to restored to what they looked like in the 1820s. 35000 people visited the site in 2008.
* Harmony Hall Established 1966 Covers 62 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Harmony Hall , part of the National Capital Parks -East System is shown above
First built in 1723 as Battersea, it was renamed Harmony Hall in honor of the co-existence between brothers John and Walter Addison and their wives. The home was bought by Charles Collins in 1927, who restored it and donated it to the Park Service in 1966. the house was placed on the Register of Historic Places in 1980, but has been closed to the public since 2010, due to its declining condition. Restoring Harmony Hall will likely cost several million dollars.
* Monocacy NB Established 1976 Covers 1647 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Best Farm, part of the national battlefield is shown above
named after the River that passes through the battlefield, Monocacy was one of the last Confederate pushes into Union territory, the battle occurred in July 1864 and is sometimes referred to as the 'battle that saved Washington". After the war the lanjd remained in private hands, and it wasnt until 1934 that Congress passed a bill designating it as a national battlefield. Funding for preserving the battlefiekd was even slower in coming, it took until 1976 for congress to designate money for the battlefield. Important sites in the battlefield include Best Farm -which served as an important Confederate position, and where Union troops discovered a copy of Robert E Lees Special Order 191 in 1862, which detailed Confederate movements and plans and which later led to the union victory at Antietam- and Thomas Farm where some of the heaviest fighting took place. Plans call for the Park Service to to buy more land to preserve more of the battlefield. Nearly 18000 people visited the site in 2005.
* Oxen Cove Park Established 1959 covers 289 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Oxon Hill Farm, part of the historic district that Includes Oxen Cove Park, is shown above
Originally built as a plantation called Mount Welby in the 1840s, the property was managed by St Elizabeths Hospital from 1891 to 1950 as a therapeutic treatment center for the mentally ill called Godding Croft. the area was turned over to the park service in 1959 to protect it from development.
* Piscatawny Park Established 1961 Covers 4217 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
A View of the Potomac River from the park is shown Above
Named after a tributary of the Potomac which itself was named for an Indian tribe that lived in the area in the 1620s, Piscatawny lies across the river from Mount Vernon and preserves the scenery to look as it did in George Washington's time. the park was created in 1961 from land donated by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, since then the park has expanded to over 4000 acres, and almost 180000 people visited in 2005.
* Thomas Stone NHS Established 1978 Covers 360 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
the Thomas Stone House, also called Haberdeventure, is shown above
Once owned by Thomas Stone, one of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, the house remained in the Stone family until 1936, and remained in private hands until 1977, when a fire damaged the central portion of the house. the Park Service bought the property in 1981 and spent 16 years restoring the property and repairing the damage wrought by the fire. the site opened to the public in 1997 and nearly 6000 people visited in 2005.
Abnnd thus concludes my tour of maryland. next time, I'll be in Massachusetts , following the trial of the Puritans, stopping to see the Salem Witches,and maybe seeing the Green Monster at Fenway. as always, Comments and input are welcome.