Prince George's County Fall/Winter Travel Planner 2008

NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER and animals. Structures located within the colonial site are open to the public and include a circa-1770 farm dwelling, an 18th-century tobacco barn, a smokehouse, and an outkitchen. The National Colonial Farm is a recognized leader in the field of historic plant preservation. For additional information, call 301-283-2113, ext. 15, or visit www.accokeek.org. 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD 20607. OXON HILL FARM AT OXON COVE PARK The hub of all NASA tracking activities, Goddard is also responsible for the development of unmanned sounding rockets and research in space and earth sciences (including NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth). Through interactive educational exhibits, visitors explore Goddard Space Flight Center with a focus on 1958 to the present. Collections include space-flight artifacts and photographs. Model-rocket launchings, a gift shop, and special group tours are available. For additional information, call 301-286-9041 or visit www.gsfc.nasa.gov/vc/index.html. Visitor Center, Soil Conservation Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771. NATIONAL WILDLIFE VISITOR CENTER The center is located at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 12,000-acre Patuxent Research Refuge, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. Explore wildlife and the environment in a Smithsonian-quality experience featuring interactive exhibits. The focus is on global environmental issues, migratory bird studies, habitats, endangered species, and life cycles. Magnificent walking trails are also available. But for those who would rather sit, enjoy the view from the tram tours (weather permitting; minimal fees apply). For additional information, call 301-497-5760 or visit http://patuxent.fws.gov. 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708. Oxon Hill Farm is a historical farm with buildings dating back to the early 1800s when the property was a wheat plantation. A variety of daily farm activities and programs is held throughout the park’s 512 acres. For additional information, call 301-839-1176 or visit www.nps.gov/oxhi. 6411 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. PATUXENT RURAL LIFE MUSEUMS NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY Established in 1862 under legislation signed by President Lincoln, the National Agricultural Library, along with the Library of Congress and the National Library of Medicine, is one of the three national libraries of the United States. It is the largest agricultural library in the world, with over 2.3 million volumes on 48 miles of shelves located on 14 floors. For additional information, call 301-504-5755 or visit www.nal.usda.gov. 10301 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705. NEWTON WHITE MANSION Located on a tract of land nearly 600 acres in size, Newton White Mansion is the former home of Captain and Mrs. Newton H. White. Captain White was the commander of the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Enterprise. The home is located adjacent to the lush, green Enterprise Golf Course in one of Prince George’s County’s most beautiful settings. For additional information, call 301-249-2004 or visit www.pgelegantsettings.com. 2708 Enterprise Road, Mitchellville, MD 20716. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT COLLEGE PARK The National Archives at College Park is best known as the current home of the Richard Nixon/Watergate tapes. This state-of-the-art archival facility houses an extensive collection of important and historic documents, tapes, and film. Reservations are required. For additional information, call 301-837-2000 or visit www.archives.gov/index.html. 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740. The Patuxent Rural Life Museums, located within the 6,000acre Patuxent River Park, are a collection of museums and farm building dedicated to preserving the heritage of southern Prince George’s County. There are seven buildings at the site: the Duvall Tool Museum, the Blacksmith Shop, the Farrier and Tack Shop, a Tobacco Farming Museum, and the 1880 Duckett Log Cabin with its privy, chicken coop, and meat house. For additional information, call 301-627-6074 or visit www.pgparks.com. 1600 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. POPLAR HILL ON HIS LORDSHIP’S KINDNESS Owned and operated by the John M. and Sara R. Walton Foundation, Inc., Poplar Hill on His Lordship’s Kindness is one of three structures in Prince George’s County designated as National Historic Landmarks. Originally named “Poplar Hill,” its present name is derived from a 7,000-acre land grand from Charles Calvert, the third Lord Baltimore, to Col. Henry Darnall in 1703. The current mansion was built between 1785 and 1787 by the colonel’s great-grandson, Robert Darnall. He replaced the earlier residence of his father, Henry Darnall III, with this beautiful Georgian home. Since its construction, Poplar Hill has been home to many families, including the Darnalls, the Sewalls, the Daingerfelds, U.S. Senator John S. and Susan Daingerfeld Barbour, the Hales, the Dunhams, U.S. Ambassador David Bruce and his wife, Evangeline Bruce, the Sayers, and the last owners, the Walton family. For additional information, call 301-856-0358 or visit www.poplarhillonhlk.com. 7606 Woodyard Road, Clinton, MD 20735. NORTHAMPTON PLANTATION SLAVE QUARTERS & ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK Historians and archaeologists are working together to reconstruct the lives of the many slaves and tenant farmers who lived at Northampton Plantation. Detailed information about the life of one slave, Elizabeth Hawkins, was obtained from descendents who live in the area and who are active participants in the research and excavations relating to the site. Northampton is located at the Northlake residential development in Lake Arbor, in a community park. Interpretative signage guides visitors on a tour of this unique site. For additional information, call 301-627-1286 (Archaeological Program) or 301-454-1780 (Black History Program), or visit www.pgparks.com. Lake Overlook Drive, Lake Arbor, MD 20721. NATIONAL COLONIAL FARM The National Colonial Farm, an outdoor living-history museum, was established by the Accokeek Foundation in 1958. Located on 200 acres of Piscataway Park directly across from Mt. Vernon on the Potomac, the farm depicts life for an ordinary tobacco-planting family in Prince George's County in the 1770s. Skilled interpreters lead tours of the farm, highlighting the colonial structures, fields, gardens, 10 PRINCEGEORGESCOUNTY • 2008-09 continued on page 23 http://www.accokeek.org http://www.nps.gov/oxhi http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/vc/index.html http://patuxent.fws.gov http://www.nal.usda.gov http://www.pgparks.com http://www.pgelegantsettings.com http://www.archives.gov/index.html http://www.poplarhillonhlk.com http://www.pgparks.com

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Prince George's County Fall/Winter Travel Planner 2008 Welcome Message Contents Events Sites and Museums Getting Around Map National Harbor Accommodations Unique Meeting Facilities Emergency Contacts

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