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Rock Creek Park is an urban natural area with public park facilities which bisects Washington, D.C. East of the park, except for a few enclaves, the city has a decidedly urban character. To the west, the city is more bucolic. A majority of foreign embassies are located to the west, as well as the colonial town of Georgetown.

Resources

There are many areas administered by the park.

Rock Creek Park

The main section of the park contains 1754 acres (7 km²) along the Rock Creek Valley — more than twice the size of Central Park in New York City. In addition to 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 2,000 acres (8 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. 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 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. Rock Creek is a popular venue for jogging and cycling, as well as the path of a major traffic throughfare, 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.

"Rock Creek Historic District" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 23, 1991.

In May of 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.

Rock Creek Park is home to at least one urban legend, The Bunnyman, or the rabbitman. There is reported to be a humanoid type figure, that is either dressed in a bunny suit, or is half rabbit, that kills people in the wooded areas of the park. The legend is orally circulated among residents of D.C.

Battleground National Cemetery

Battleground National Cemetery, located at 6625 Georgia Avenue, NW, was established shortly after the Battle of Fort Stevens in the summer of 1864. The battle marked the defeat of General Jubal A. Early's Confederate campaign to launch an offensive action against the poorly defended Nation's Capital. The Battle of Fort Stevens was also to gain notoriety as being the only military action in which a sitting President of the United States (Abraham Lincoln) came under direct fire from an enemy force.

The cemetery was administratively listed on the National Register on October 15, 1966.

Meridian Hill Park

Montrose and Dumbarton Oaks Parks

Montrose Park occupies land that belonged to Robert Parrott. Adjacent to it is Dumbarton Oak Park, which preserves the grounds of the former Dumbarton Oaks estate. The house is not part of the park.

Both parks were listed on the National Register on May 28, 1967.

Old Stone House

The Old Stone House, one of the oldest known structures remaining in the nation's capital, is a simple 18th century dwelling built and inhabited by common people. Its beautiful English garden is a popular and tranquil oasis in the busy shopping district of Georgetown. The house itself is a popular museum to everyday life of middle class colonial America.

The house was listed on the National Register on November 30, 1973.

Peirce Mill

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 further 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 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 on March 24, 1969.

The mill is currently not open for tours because of repair work.

Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway

Administrative history

Congressional authorizations:

External links

National parks in Washington, D.C. | Registered Historic Places in the District of Columbia

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Rock Creek Park".

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