Smallwood State Park

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Smallwood State Park
Smallwood house NW facade.jpg
Smallwood's Retreat
USA Maryland relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Smallwood State Park
Location in Maryland
Location Charles County, Maryland, United States
Nearest town Marbury, Maryland
Coordinates 38°33′23″N77°11′07″W / 38.55639°N 77.18528°W / 38.55639; -77.18528
Area984 acres (398 ha) [1]
Elevation3 ft (0.91 m)
Established1957
Administered by Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Designation Maryland state park
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Smallwood State Park is a public recreation and historic preservation area located on Mattawoman Creek near Marbury, Charles County, Maryland. The state park preserves Smallwood's Retreat, the plantation home of former Continental Army officer and Governor of Maryland, Major General William Smallwood. The park's 984 acres (398 ha) include a marina, boat ramps, picnicking facilities, campsites, cabins, trails, and nature center. [2]

Contents

History

After a succession of occupants left Smallwood's Retreat a "standing ruin", a group of local citizens organized the Smallwood Foundation to restore the historic house. [3] The house and ten surrounding acres were acquired in 1938. In 1957, the state began property acquisition for Smallwood State Park, purchasing 323 farmland acres from three owners. The park saw its formal dedication in 1958, when the Smallwood Foundation transferred the ten acres containing the restored Smallwood's Retreat to the state. [4]

References

  1. "DNR Lands Acreage Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  2. "Smallwood State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  3. "Smallwood State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  4. K. Grandine; et al. (June 30, 2004). "Smallwood State Park" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved October 16, 2024.