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Monocacy National BattlefieldBest Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield (facing west)
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Monocacy National Battlefield
A Selected Timeline of the Monocacy Area
pre- 1715

Native Peoples

 

1715-1790

 

Arrival of European Explorers and Traders

1729 Wett Work tract patented by John Abbington
1730 Urbana and the surrounding area settled
1740 Locust Level tract patented by Daniel Dulaney
1745 Town of Frederick established
ca. 1748 Middle Ford Ferry crossing established over the Monocacy River
ca. 1780 James Marshall builds the main house on Araby (today's Thomas Farm)

 

1790-1860

 

The Post-Revolutionary War Era

ca. 1794 Earliest portion of main house on L'Hermitage (today's Best Farm) constructed
1805 Georgetown Pike chartered by state of Maryland
1827 John Brien purchased L'Hermitage from the Vincendières
1831 Baltimore & Ohio Railroad completed to Monocacy Junction.
1848 The Georgetown Pike was macadamized.
ca. 1852 Griffin Taylor builds the brick farmhouse on Clifton (today's Worthington Farm)

 

1860-1890

 

Civil War and Reconstruction

1860 John T. Worthington purchases Clifton farm
1862-1863 Two blockhouses built by the Union Army to guard the railroad and the turnpike bridge over the Monocacy River 
1864 July 9, the Battle of Monocacy is fought
ca. 1872 The Gambrills build the Edgewood mansion

 

1890-1934

 

Commemoration and Memorialization

1907 New Jersey Monument dedicated
1908 Pennsylvania Monument erected
1914 UDC Monument dedicated; the Geisbert family purchases the Baker Farm
1915 Vermont Monument dedicated

 

1934-Present  

 

Establishment and Development of the National Battlefield

1934 Monocacy National Military Park authorized by an act of Congress, but no funds are appropriated for land purchase
1950-1952 U.S. 240 (today's Interstate 270) constructed
1964 Maryland Monument constructed; centennial of battle commemorated.
1973 Battlefield designated as a National Historic Landmark
1975 Battlefield placed on the National Register of Historic Places
1976 Name changed to Monocacy National Battlefield; funds are appropriated for land acquisition
1991 Visitor center established at Gambrill Mill as park opens to the public on July 13
1981-2001 National Park Service purchases six component properties that comprise the park
2001-2006 Archeological and historic research projects are conducted to investigate park resources 
2006 Ground is broken for a new visitor center scheduled for completion in late spring of 2007


Monocacy Junction, 1917  

Did You Know?
The "Y" at Monocacy Junction, completed in 1830, allows trains to turn around. It was the first of its kind in the United States, and is still in use today.

Last Updated: February 28, 2007 at 08:38 EST