18 miles north of Washington in the town of Brookeville, which earned the nickname “the United States Capital for a Day.” Brookeville Academy [16] temporarily held U.S. Senate records. The Declaration of Independence and other documents were packed in 22 carts that traveled to Leesburg, Va., for safekeeping. The carts passed through the present site of Claude Moore Park. President Madison himself caught a ferry as he fled through what is now Riverbend Park in Great Falls, Va. A boat ramp marks the spot of the ferry landing. Fearing a similar fate to the one suffered by Washington, officials in nearby Alexandria, Va., capitulated to a British naval squadron and endured a weeklong enemy occupation from August 28 to September 3. Dolley Madison was among many people who were critical of the city’s quick surrender, yet “Old Town Alexandria” might not otherwise exist today with its quaint shops, waterfront restaurants and many historical structures. Look for links to the War of 1812 at museums such as The Lyceum [17] and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial [18] . + Above: Riverbend Park on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail – Great Falls, Virginia. Left: Montpelier Mansion – Laurel . MD OFFICE OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA VISITOR-FRIENDLY PLANTATION AND manor houses have become museums that reveal much of the history of this region. Montpelier Mansion in Laurel welcomed guests such as George Washington and Abigail Adams, the Marietta House in Glenn Dale once belonged to War of 1812-era Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Duvall, and the Belair Mansion in Bowie has been part of two centuries’ worth of Thoroughbred horse racing fame. National Harbor is one of the area’s newest attractions — an urban waterfront 28 | nps.gov/stsp community with elegant shops and attractions, a variety of dining establishments and water taxi service that extends across the Potomac River to Old Town Alexandria, Va. This part of Virginia offers river cruises, carriage rides and walking tours that pass by a number of colonial structures. The National Park Service’s Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network includes a 238-mile Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route that begins and ends at Fort Washington Park . Just minutes from Washington, D.C., travelers can observe hundreds of Canada geese at the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary , launch a boat at Piscataway Park or rent a canoe at Patuxent River Park . The Anacostia Trails Heritage Area and the Anacostia Watershed Society invite visitors to use the new Anacostia Water Trail Map and Guide for paddle explorations and to take advantage of other outdoor pursuits. Farmers’ markets, world-class theater productions, public art displays and other entertainment are also on hand. Welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each day, Washington, D.C., is brimming with monuments, memorials and museums found among the many government buildings. In the heart of the federal city, National Park Service staff CHRIS SPIELMANN, COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
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