September 15

Fort Washington is a fun place to peruse. It sits on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, about 12 miles south of our nation’s capital. I started the day at Fort Foote, a couple miles upriver from Fort Washington. There are two huge Rodman guns on their swivel bases. They are model 1861 U.S. 15” Columbiad. The forest has grown around them, but the NPS has cut paths through sections of the old fort, including accessing these two beauties. This model was the largest gun in the U.S. arsenal during the Civil War. At 1,000 yards range, the solid shot could pierce 10” of iron armor. No wonder the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimac) never attempted to get by Fort Monroe in Virginia (another NPS park). Fort Washington was transferred to the NPS in 1946. Before that, it had the task of guarding the Potomac River approach to Washington, D.C., back to 1809. The first Fort Washington (originally known as Fort Warburton) was burned in 1814 during the British attack on our capitol. The second Fort Washington was built shortly after the war ended since the military agreed a better fort system was needed. This is the fort visitors today can tour, walking across the drawbridge, entering through two sets of large gates at the Sally Port, marching the grounds, viewing the Demi-Bastions, and looking out over the river. I saw a ranger walk down the paved path to unlock the main entrance. She then headed back up the hill to the VC to open that building, which used to be the Commanding Officer’s quarters. Some deer were near the front door but jumped into the woods. The 1889 lighthouse at the bottom of the fort’s main hill was surrounded by scaffolding. A reliable source told me bets had been taken until recently, when enough money was given to the park to recondition the structure, as to when the tower would topple. 125 years is a long time for exposed wood to weather the environment.

In thirty minutes, going south via MD 210 and MD 225, I was at Thomas Stone NHS. As the tour guide said, not many people know the name Thomas Stone, even though he was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Stone family is as close to Maryland royalty as you can get (multiple Governors of Maryland, and multiple Maryland and U.S. Congressmen). The home Stone built after he married Margaret Brown is well preserved, considered one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in the State. The tour begins in the one end of the house, an extension from the original center section, as more people moved into the home over the years. The master bedroom is blue-color themed. Stone was rich, and no expense was spared in room decoration. Across the foyer is the house’s study/den. With some luck, Stone’s original desk was obtained by the NPS and stands against one wall, next to a portrait of the great patriot painted just before his death. Between the VC and the home, one can view the family cemetery. A trail takes you to other farm buildings on the property; Tobacco Barn, Corn Crib, Horse Barn, and Tenant House. Our guide explained how Stone was instrumental in the Declaration of Independence, acting for the Maryland delegation to the Continental Congress in July, 1776. He made sure we were to understand the true “Independence Day” is July 2, when the Congress approved the resolution to “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” Some editing was needed, which was completed early on July 4. John Dunlap that day then printed about 200 copies of the resolution for distribution around the country, with the date July 4 (and a John Hancock printed signature) on the document. John Adams would say July 2 is the day for celebration.

Piscataway Park lies halfway between Stone and Fort Washington, so only a 15-minute drive back north. We can thank the Mount Vernon Ladies Assocation (the first historic preservation society in America) for this park. The 1950s and 1960s saw plenty of expansion in the metro D.C. area. This land was scheduled for a housing development, a sewage treatment facility, and an oil tank storage farm (Standard Oil). But this stretch of land sits directly across the waters of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon. What an eye sore for people visiting George Washington’s home. Congress authorized the purchasing of the land from private owners in 1961. Today there are around 500 acres in the park, which includes the National Colonial Farm, a fishing pier, and two boardwalks over freshwater tidal lands.

First State NHP was a 2-hour drive up I-95, in Delaware. Yes, I-95 was as slow as usual after each major on-ramp. Too bad so many people have to sit in traffic day after day during their working lives. The park has six sites (one is Fort Christina and the Rocks, the location of the first landing of Europeans in this area, in 1638). I planned to visit the New Castle Courthouse area since the other sites would be closed or are farther south in Delaware (Dover and the beaches). I missed the last tour of the day, at 3 PM, because of the traffic delays. But, I was able to walk around the historic center of old Delaware. The courthouse was the first court and capitol for Delaware. I find it interesting that Delaware had to declare their independence from Pennsylvania as well as Great Britain, done in 1776 as the prelude to the Declaration of Independence a couple weeks later.

Next stop was Great Egg Harbor River, about one hour way via US 40. I chose Penny Pot Park as the spot for experiencing the river. Many people canoe and raft on the river, but I do not have such gear and was not interested in finding a business that does. Much of the river flows through Atlantic County. The park is not necessarily managed by the NPS, rather by county and city jurisdictions. A big sign at Penny Pot Park was evidence Atlantic County wants you to know they have primary responsibility. I walked down to the river’s edge to get photos of the famous brown, tea-colored, flowing water. The river has above average levels of iron and natural occurring dyes such as tannin. It sure is odd to see brown water in a seemingly pristine environment. With the river zig-zagging on its way to the Atlantic Ocean, be sure to check maps as to locations where you can access the water.