Accokeek, Clinton, and Fort Washington National Park, MD - Accokeek MD Weekend Getaway

Preview: According to early documentation by Captain John Smith, Accokeek is situated on the site of Moyanone, a Piscataway Indian village. While the village was burned in 1622, numerous artifacts have been unearthed here with the cooperation of the Smithsonian Institution. Archeological and anthropological quests have yielded thousands of skeletons, indicating that the site was occupied for several hundred years. A museum located in the public library displays some of these finds. Clinton’s lure is almost entirely attributable to John and Mary Surratt. The town became known as Surrattsville when John was appointed postmaster in 1854. The family house and tavern served as a local post office, a resting place for travelers, a public dining room, and a local polling place. It was also a “safe” house for Confederate couriers. American history enthusiasts and Abraham Lincoln buffs will remember it for the deeds of Mary Surratt. In 1865, Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and David E. Herold stopped here on the way to the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd. For her part in taking in these travelers, Mrs. Surratt was charged, found guilty, and hanged for alleged complicity in the plot to assassinate Lincoln. She was the first woman to be executed by the federal government. Controversy still prevails over her innocence, as much of the damaging testimony was unsubstantiated or extracted from unreliable sources. Fort Washington is an imposing example of the first fortifications erected for the defense of the nation’s capital. George Washington selected this ideal elevated terrain along the Potomac River in 1795. While the fort erected here in 1808 commanded an excellent view of the river for miles, it was inadequate in construction and poorly planned. The British destroyed this earlier fort during the War of 1812. Major Charles L’Enfant, planner and designer of Washington, DC, immediately set about constructing the present fort. A quarrel with the War Department interrupted his work, and Lieutenant Colonel Warren K. Armistad completed the construction in 1824. A visit to Fort Washington National Park is an excellent opportunity to see an example of early-nineteenth-century strategy in defense and garrison life. This chapter from the DayTrips series describes many fascinating, exciting, (and many free of charge) things to do, most within a two-hour drive of Baltimore. Each Day Trip includes destination highlights, places to visit along the way, choice restaurants and lodging, and shopping.
© Copyright Gwyn Walcoff & Bob Willis published by The Globe Pequot Press all rights reserved.


Duration: One day to several days
Best Time to Go: Year-round
This travel guide comes from:
Day Trips from Baltimore Guide Book