Rock Creek Park
Encyclopedia
Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C.
The park is administered by the National Park Service
.
The main section of the park contains 1754 acres (7.1 km²), or 2.75 square miles (7.1 km²), along the Rock Creek
Valley. Including the other green areas the park administers (Glover Archbold Park, Montrose Park, Dumbarton Oaks Park, Meridian Hill Park
, Battery Kemble Park
, Palisades Park, Whitehaven Park, etc.), it is over 2000 acres (8.1 km²). The major portion of the area lies north of the National Zoo
, and was established by act of Congress made law by President
Benjamin Harrison
on September 27, 1890, the same year that Yosemite National Park
was established. A later addition of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
extended the park along a narrow corridor from the zoo to the mouth of Rock Creek at the Potomac River
.
In 1933, Rock Creek Park, along with other National Capital Parks, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, and it is patrolled by the United States Park Police
. Legislative language from its establishment, and the character of the park itself, suggests that it is among the oldest of America's national parks.
Recreation facilities include a golf course; equestrian trails; sport venues, including a tennis stadium
which hosts major professional events; a nature center and planetarium; an outdoor concert venue; and picnic and playground facilities. Rock Creek Park also maintains cultural exhibits, including the Peirce Mill and Civil War
fortifications, such as Fort Stevens
and Fort DeRussy
. Rock Creek is a popular venue for jogging
, cycling
, and inline skating
, especially on the long, winding Beach Drive, portions of which are closed to vehicles on weekends.
It is also the path of a major traffic thoroughfare, the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, especially along the portion south of the zoo.
The parklands follow the course of Rock Creek across the D.C.-Maryland
border to connect with Rock Creek Stream Valley Park and Rock Creek Regional Park in Montgomery County
. The Maryland parks are operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
.
The Rock Creek Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on October 23, 1991.
In May 2002, the remains of missing Federal Bureau of Prisons
intern Chandra Levy
were found in Rock Creek Park. Police had been searching for her for over a year.
Peirce Mill
is a water-powered grist mill in Rock Creek Park. There were at least eight mills along Rock Creek within what is now Washington D.C., and many more farther upstream in Montgomery County, Maryland
. Of those eight, only Peirce Mill is still standing.
It was built in the 1820s by Isaac Peirce, along with a house, barn, and other buildings. It was later owned by a son, Joshua Peirce, and a nephew Peirce Shoemaker. It became part of Rock Creek Park when the park was created in the 1890s.
The family consistently spelled their name "Peirce" (except for some of Isaac Peirce's ancestors who went by Pearce). Others often use "Pierce" but not the family. Evidence includes family gravestones, family Bible, and estate book from Joshua Peirce, and living descendants who still use the old spelling.
The mill was listed on the National Register in 1969 as Pierce Mill.
The Mill has been repaired and re-opened October 15th 2011.
The Peirce Carriage Barn, adjacent to the mill, is usually open every day. The barn is the National Park Service point of contact. The barn was part of the Peirce estate built in 1810 and used as a tack room and carriage barn. The barn is now a mini museum containing information on the milling process, the Peirce family estate and other mills along the Rock Creek Valley.
occupies land that belonged to Robert Parrott. Adjacent to it is Dumbarton Oaks Park
, which preserves the grounds of the former Dumbarton Oaks
estate. The house and its formal garden are not part of the park.
Both parks were listed on the National Register on May 28, 1967.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The park is administered by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
.
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek (Potomac River)
Rock Creek is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay. The creek is long, with a drainage area of about...
Valley. Including the other green areas the park administers (Glover Archbold Park, Montrose Park, Dumbarton Oaks Park, Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park, is located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights in the United States. The 12 acres of landscaped grounds are maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park, but are not contiguous with the main part of that park...
, Battery Kemble Park
Battery Kemble Park
Battery Kemble Park is a park in Northwest Washington D.C., administered by the National Park Service.Battery Kemble was a Union Army defensive site during the Civil War. The battery was located on Ridge Road , and included two 100-pound Parrott rifles, placed in such a way as to sweep Chain...
, Palisades Park, Whitehaven Park, etc.), it is over 2000 acres (8.1 km²). The major portion of the area lies north of the National Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, and as part of the Smithsonian Institution, does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to provide leadership in animal care, science, education,...
, and was established by act of Congress made law by President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
on September 27, 1890, the same year that Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
was established. A later addition of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
The Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, often known simply as the Rock Creek Parkway, is a parkway maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C...
extended the park along a narrow corridor from the zoo to the mouth of Rock Creek at the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
.
In 1933, Rock Creek Park, along with other National Capital Parks, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, and it is patrolled by the United States Park Police
United States Park Police
The United States Park Police is one of the oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agencies in the United States. It functions as a full service law enforcement agency with responsibilities and jurisdiction in those National Park Service areas primarily located in the Washington, D.C., San...
. Legislative language from its establishment, and the character of the park itself, suggests that it is among the oldest of America's national parks.
Recreation facilities include a golf course; equestrian trails; sport venues, including a tennis stadium
William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center
The William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center is a public tennis center located in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.. It houses 10 hard courts and 15 clay courts. 5 indoors courts are heated and available year round. The main stadium seats 7,500 spectators...
which hosts major professional events; a nature center and planetarium; an outdoor concert venue; and picnic and playground facilities. Rock Creek Park also maintains cultural exhibits, including the Peirce Mill and Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
fortifications, such as Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens (Washington, D.C.)
Fort Stevens was part of the extensive fortifications built around Washington, D.C., during the American Civil War. It was constructed in 1861 as "Fort Massachusetts" and later enlarged by the Union Army and renamed "Fort Stevens" after Brig. Gen...
and Fort DeRussy
Fort DeRussy (Washington, D.C.)
Fort DeRussy was an American Civil War-era fortification constructed in 1861 on a hilltop along the west bank of Rock Creek within Washington, D.C., as part of the defenses of the national capital...
. Rock Creek is a popular venue for jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, and inline skating
Inline skating
Inline skating is a recreational sport practiced widely internationally. Inline skates typically have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line. The in-line design allows for greater speed than roller skates and better maneuverability...
, especially on the long, winding Beach Drive, portions of which are closed to vehicles on weekends.
The parklands follow the course of Rock Creek across the D.C.-Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border to connect with Rock Creek Stream Valley Park and Rock Creek Regional Park in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. The Maryland parks are operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
.
The Rock Creek Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on October 23, 1991.
In May 2002, the remains of missing Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
intern Chandra Levy
Chandra Levy
Chandra Ann Levy was an American intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C., who disappeared in May 2001. She was presumed murdered after her skeletal remains were found in Rock Creek Park in May 2002...
were found in Rock Creek Park. Police had been searching for her for over a year.
Peirce Mill
Peirce Mill
The Peirce Mill, also known as Pierce Mill, is an historic mill building located in Rock Creek Park, at Tilden Street and Beach Drive, Northwest, Washington, D.C.-History:Issac Peirce built the mill either in 1820 or 1829....
is a water-powered grist mill in Rock Creek Park. There were at least eight mills along Rock Creek within what is now Washington D.C., and many more farther upstream in Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. Of those eight, only Peirce Mill is still standing.
It was built in the 1820s by Isaac Peirce, along with a house, barn, and other buildings. It was later owned by a son, Joshua Peirce, and a nephew Peirce Shoemaker. It became part of Rock Creek Park when the park was created in the 1890s.
The family consistently spelled their name "Peirce" (except for some of Isaac Peirce's ancestors who went by Pearce). Others often use "Pierce" but not the family. Evidence includes family gravestones, family Bible, and estate book from Joshua Peirce, and living descendants who still use the old spelling.
The mill was listed on the National Register in 1969 as Pierce Mill.
The Mill has been repaired and re-opened October 15th 2011.
The Peirce Carriage Barn, adjacent to the mill, is usually open every day. The barn is the National Park Service point of contact. The barn was part of the Peirce estate built in 1810 and used as a tack room and carriage barn. The barn is now a mini museum containing information on the milling process, the Peirce family estate and other mills along the Rock Creek Valley.
Montrose and Dumbarton Oaks Parks
Montrose ParkMontrose Park
The Montrose Park is a public park, located in the 3000 block of R Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Georgetown neighborhood.It is located between Dumbarton Oaks Park, and Oak Hill Cemetery....
occupies land that belonged to Robert Parrott. Adjacent to it is Dumbarton Oaks Park
Dumbarton Oaks Park
The Dunbarton Oaks Park is a public park, located in the 3100 block of R Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Georgetown neighborhood. Access is via...
, which preserves the grounds of the former Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks is the conventional name for the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, situated on a historic property in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The institution is administered by the Trustees for Harvard University. Its founders, Robert Woods Bliss and his wife...
estate. The house and its formal garden are not part of the park.
Both parks were listed on the National Register on May 28, 1967.
Old Stone House
The Old Stone House, the oldest building in Washington, DC, is a simple 18th century dwelling. The house itself is a popular museum showcasing the everyday life of middle class colonists. It was purchased by the federal government in 1953 and has been open to the public since the 1960s.Administrative history
Congressional authorizations:- Rock Creek Park - September 27, 1890
- Meridian Hill Park - June 25, 1910
- Montrose Park - March 2, 1911
- Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway - March 4, 1913
- Dumbarton Oaks Park - December 2, 1940
See also
- Battleground National CemeteryBattleground National CemeteryBattleground National Cemetery is a military burial ground, located along Georgia Avenue near Fort Stevens, in Washington, D.C.'s Brightwood neighborhood...
- Fort StevensFort Stevens (Washington, D.C.)Fort Stevens was part of the extensive fortifications built around Washington, D.C., during the American Civil War. It was constructed in 1861 as "Fort Massachusetts" and later enlarged by the Union Army and renamed "Fort Stevens" after Brig. Gen...
- Linden OakLinden OakThe Linden Oak is believed to be the largest white oak tree in the United States and is 275 years old. It received this designation after the famous Wye Oak in Wye Mills, Maryland was destroyed by a windstorm in 2002....
- Meridian Hill ParkMeridian Hill ParkMeridian Hill Park, is located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights in the United States. The 12 acres of landscaped grounds are maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park, but are not contiguous with the main part of that park...
- Old Stone House (Washington, D.C.)Old Stone House (Washington, D.C.)The Old Stone House is the oldest unchanged building in Washington, D.C., United States. The house is also Washington's last Pre-Revolutionary Colonial building on its original foundation. Built in 1765, Old Stone House is located at 3051 M Street, Northwest in the Georgetown neighborhood...