Laurel in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Patuxent River

Riverfront Park Heritage & Nature Trail

Photographed by A. Taylor, February 2, 2014

1. Patuxent River Marker

Inscription. The Patuxent River is the longest river that is located entirely in the state of Maryland. It spans 115 miles from the Piedmont area near the intersection of Howard, Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties to the Chesapeake Bay. Traveling through seven counties on its journey to the Chesapeake Bay, the river crosses the highly urbanized Baltimore/Washington corridor collecting runoff from the cities of Laurel, Bowie, and Columbia. The Patuxent widens to a navigable tidal estuary near the colonial seaport of Queen Anne in Prince George's County. The River spans over 2 miles in some areas from Queen Anne to the Chesapeake Bay.

The Patuxent River was first named "Pawtuxunt" from Captain John Smith's voyage upriver in 1608. Captain Smith got as far as Lyons Creek area, 40 miles from the Chesapeake. By the mid and late 1600's colonists spread upriver to Mt. Calvert and Billingsly Point, two colonial mansions approximately 44 miles from the Chesapeake. By the early 1700's, the Snowden iron ore furnace was shipping "pig iron" downriver from the current vicinity of the 1783 Montpelier Mansion.

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission constructed two dams on the main branch in the mid 20th century. Brighton Dam was constructed 96 miles from the Chesapeake in 1943, impounding the waters of Triadelphia Reservoir.

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The T. Howard Duckett Dam was constructed in 1952 and is located outside of Laurel. This dam creates the Rocky Gorge Reservoir.

Erected by City of Laurel.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1608.

Location. 39° 6.46′ N, 76° 50.763′ W. Marker is in Laurel, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It can be reached from Avondale Street. The marker is in Laurel's Riverfront Park Heritage & Nature Trail, just south of the Patuxent River. There is a parking lot at the north end of 4th and Avondale Streets, and the marker is in that section of the park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Laurel MD 20707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Riverfront Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Avondale Mill: A Lost Treasure (within shouting distance of this marker); Avondale Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Laurel's Civil War Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); An Angel Among US (approx. 0.2 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Laurel (approx. 0.2 miles away); A “Little Dam” Powers the Avondale Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Laurel: Half-way between Baltimore and Washington (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laurel.

Also see . . .

Patuxent River Watershed image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 15, 2014

2. Patuxent River Watershed

Close-up of map on marker

Patuxent River (Wikipedia). (Submitted on March 3, 2014, by A. Taylor of Laurel, Maryland.)

Source of the Patuxent River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne

3. Source of the Patuxent River

The Patuxent River begins at the HM Stone (marked here in red) on the Day Farm on the Border of Howard and Montgomery Counties at (39° 20' 47.75843", -77° 10' 47.69787"). The stone is just off the south west corner of the property at 960 Ridge Road. MD Geological Survey Sheet Prepared by Frey, Sheehan & Associates.

The HM Stone<br>Source of the Patuxent River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne

4. The HM Stone
Source of the Patuxent River

Looking south, the Patuxent is visible as the green sward heading of to the right (southeast).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2014, by A. Taylor of Laurel, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,363 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 3, 2014, by A. Taylor of Laurel, Maryland. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 23, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.