Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Peirce-Klingle Estate at Linnaean Hill
Rock Creek Park
During the 19th century, the majority of the land now known as Rock Creek Park was owned by Isaac Peirce, one of Washington's most prominent land holders and mill owners. It was here that Isaac's son, Joshua Peirce, constructed his home in 1823 on top of a bluff overlooking the Rock Creek Valley and transformed an 82-acre tract of land into Washington D.C.'s first commercial nursery. Utilizing slave labor as the main work force until 1860, the nursery proved profitable and thrived for many decades. An avid horticulturalist, Peirce honored Swedish botanist Karl Von Linnaeus by naming both his property and his nursery Linnaean Hill.
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The Linnaean Hill estate was comprised of eleven stone and wooden structures. In addition to the home, only three other structures still exist to remind us of Peirce's use of the land. One of the most important buildings in the complex was the greenhouse. Built in 1826, it was situated between the utility and potting sheds behind the mansion. It was in this building that Peirce expertly developed and cultivated highly prized varieties of camellias.
In 1890, during the creation of Rock Creek Park, the federal government purchased the home from Joshua's nephew, Joshua Peirce Klingle. Locally referred to as Klingle Mansion, the homestead served as the original Nature Center for Rock Creek Park from 1950-1960. Today, the mansion serves as the Park's headquarters.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1823.
Location. 38° 56.181′ N, 77° 3.01′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Rock Creek Park. Marker can be reached from Williamsburg Lane Northwest north of Porter Street Northwest, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3545 Williamsburg Lane Northwest, Washington DC 20008, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Klingle Mansion (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jusserand (about 600 feet away); Peirce Mill (approx. ¼ mile away); Klingle Valley Trail (approx. ¼ mile away); Machine in a Stone Box (approx. 0.3 miles away); Michael Kovats de Fabricy (approx. 0.3 miles away); Voices at Vespers (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Peirce Family Estate (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 470 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.