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Our Story

In the mid-1950s, development threatened to destroy the beautiful landscape along the Maryland shore of the Potomac River. Instead of enjoying the same view that George Washington did more than two hundred years ago, visitors to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate would have seen an oil tank farm, a sewage treatment plant, or housing developments.

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Congresswoman Frances Payne Bolton of Ohio, a member of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, sprang into action. She purchased a 500-acre farm directly across the Potomac from Mount Vernon and next to the Moyaone Reserve, an environmentally conscious planned community. Bolton donated her farm for the creation of the Accokeek Foundation and, with a coalition of organizations that included the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Moyaone Association, and Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, launched an ambitious program to protect six-miles of shoreline. This large-scale landscape conservation effort led to the creation of Piscataway Park, the first national park established to “preserve historic vistas.”

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Today, the Accokeek Foundation partners with the National Park Service to provide programs and services to enhance the park visitor experience and steward 200 acres of Piscataway Park which covers, in total, approximately 5,000 acres, from Piscataway Creek to Marshall Hall on the Potomac River. An effort that began out of a desire to “preserve the view,” in the end has preserved much more. The full conservation area protects a wealth of environmental, cultural, and historic resources, from wetlands to farms to nationally significant historic sites.

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By honoring the park’s river location, the Piscataway people, and the sacredness of this land, the Accokeek Foundation shares with people and communities through nature, agriculture, cultural history, and foodways, the value that this land and soil hold, including evolving stories about different communities’ reliance on it for sustenance. Park visitors experience the interconnectedness of all life as they come to know the historical and cultural significance and regenerative potential of the indigenous landscape that is Piscataway Park.

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The park is open daily to visitors who enjoy a quiet landscape for recreation and reflection. Annually, thousands of school children visit for farm-based education, learning about environmental stewardship through a historical lens. With support from donors and members, the Accokeek Foundation provides a natural space for all to enjoy, for generations to come. 

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Frances Payne Bolton

Founder

When development threatened the Maryland shore of the Potomac River, Congresswoman Bolton, the Mount Vernon Ladies Vice Regent from Ohio, sprang into action and purchased the land that would one day be Piscataway Park.

Guiding
Principles

Our guiding principles are based on the 7 Grandfather Teachings, which serve as the foundation for our work, strategic decisions, and impact.

1 / Respect

We prioritize the well-being and success of others, fostering a supportive and inclusive community.

2 / Love

We lead with compassion and empathy, treating everyone with care and understanding.

3 / Humility

We recognize our strengths and limitations, fostering trust through reliability and self-awareness.

4 / Bravery

We approach our work and mission with energy, enthusiasm, and an unwavering commitment to our purpose.

5 / Truth

We uphold the highest ethical standards, acting with honesty and transparency in all our actions.

6 / Wisdom

We value learning and growth, drawing from Indigenous knowledge and community insights to guide our decisions and actions.

7 / Honesty

We communicate openly and authentically, building trust through integrity and accountability.

Guiding Principles
Piscataway Park dedication 1968_edited.jpg

Our History

1955

Congresswoman Frances Payne Bolton purchases a 485-acre farm across the Potomac from Mount Vernon to save it from development as an oil tank farm.

1957

The Accokeek Foundation is formed with Mrs. Bolton serving as its first president.

1959

The National Colonial Farm is established as a living demonstration of 18th century Tidewater farming and husbandry.

1968

Piscataway Park is dedicated in a ceremony on Washington's birthday.

1981

An 18th-century tobacco barn is relocated and built on the National Colonial Farm.

1992

Reconstruction begins on the Laurel Branch house, which was built circa 1770, then moved to the National Colonial Farm to preserve its architectural history.

2005

New "green" Education Center opens to host school tours, educational programming, and meetings.

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