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Catoctin Mountain Park
History & Culture

Catoctin's diverse cultural resources provide several vignettes of our nation's history in one small location. Native Americans quarried rhyolite for the production of lithic tools. A charcoal and iron industry is still visible today, along with smaller industries including farms, sawmills, and an old moonshine still. Historic structures and products of the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, along with the site of our nation's firstJobCorpsCenter, are tangible reminders of the capability of vigorous youth programs to strengthen the nation’s economic and social fabric. The totality of resources found inCatoctinMountainParkreflects much of the early fabric of our country.


 

An Historic Resource Study was conducted in March 2000 by Dr. Edmund Werlhe and is available on line for your reference.

Catoctin Mountain Park, An Administrative History by Barbara Kirkconnell, February 1988.  578KB, word document.

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Did You Know?
Early April, 1942 a basic training school for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was opened at Area B (Catoctin Mountain Park).The school evolved into primarily paramilitary training with British Captain William Fairbairn, “Fearless Dan” or “Shanghai Buster” as it’s most famous instructor.

Last Updated: February 24, 2008 at 13:12 EST