Francis Scott Key Park - Washington, D.C. - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

One of three signs related to Francis Scott Key under the pergola within the park. Sign Text:

Francis Scott Key Park
Before 1620 the area of the Francis Scott Key Park was inhabited by members of Algonquian, Nacostine, Nacotchtank, Piscatoway and Patawomeke tribes. In 1634 it became part of the English Colony of Maryland.
Beginning in the 18th century, Falls or M street (1) was the trail to the Potomac river falls, and Frederick or 34th Street (2) was the access to the west landing of the port of George Town and Hite's Ferry (3) to Virginia. George Washington passed along 34th street on the way to his first Presidential inauguration in 1789 and again in 1793 to lay the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.
In 1784 this land was added to George Town, an early trading center and major tobacco port. In 1791, the land was included in the 10-mile square deisgnated as the "Nation's Capital," During the late 18th century, this "Court End" of George Town saw the construction of "Gentleman's Houses," some of which are standing today.
These included Francis Scott Key's house (4) built in 1803 and dismantled in 1947; John Mason's house (5) built c. 1794 and his model farm on Analostan (Roosevelt) Island (6); the Forrest Marbury House (7) built c. 1788; Halcyon House (8) built c. 1786; Prospect House (9) built c. 1790; Quality Hill (10) built c. 1799; and Foxall House (11) built c. 1802. Georgetown University (12) was established 1789.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (13) was begun in 1828 is a major trade route to and from the West. The now destoryed Aqueduct Bridge (14) carried the Canal to Alexandria, Virginia. The Canal's 1924 demise was the result of river flooding and competition from the railroads.
The Park site became more commercial at the end of the 19th century, and homes were replaced by small shops and businesses. Around 1923, all of the buildings were demolished when Key Bridge (15) was built. Archeological investigations in 1989 and 1992 examined some of the foundations of these buildings and analyzed artifacts from early history.
The Francis Scott Key Foundation created and built The Star-Spangled Banner Monument with private funds and donated it as a gift to the United States from the American people on September 14, 1993.

Group that erected the marker: Francis Scott Key Foundation URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: 1198 34th and M St NW Washington, D.C. 20007

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Date Logged Log   05/29/2017 Searcher28 visited it