Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
REMOVED
SEE LOCATION SECTION
Pierce Plantation
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 18, 2016
1. Pierce Plantation Marker
Inscription.
Pierce Plantation. .
Pierce Plantation 1820-1840. Cultivated fields and orchards spread out on the more than 1,200-acre tract above the creek. The spring house, family home, distillery, and flour mill remains as evidence of this large working estate along Rock Creek. , In 1794, Isaac Pierce, an enterprising millwright, acquired a large tract of land surrounding his mill site. Within two decades he established a diversified plantation, adding a saw mill, a distillery, and a new and larger flour mill to his farming activities. A working household of 26 persons was required to maintain this successful operation. , A log dam was constructed above Pierce Mill to provide a reliable source of power for the mills. ,
Water Power Wooden Wheel and Flowing Stream . The leisurely flow of creek water was diverted to the mill race where it was channeled and delivered to the water wheel. The wheel, placed in motion by the weight of the water that filled the wheel buckets, generated the 20 to 40 horsepower needed to keep the mills wooden machinery and heavy millstones in motion., The illustrated breast wheel closely resembles the original water wheel used to power the mill. The momentum of the creeks flow and the weight of the water-filled buckets generated the mills power. , Periodically, destructive torrents of high creek water would wash away the timber crib dams, and milling operations would be interrupted until the dams were reconstructed. ,
Rock Creek Park. Rock Creek Park, with its 1,754 acres of urban forest, offers many recreational opportunities and programs. Tours of Pierce Mill and guided nature hikes are frequently scheduled. , An extensive system of marked trails crisscrosses the park, including hiking, bridle trails, and a physical fitness exercise course. There are picnic sites and recreational fields for many sports. You may wish to read the posted calendar of seasonal activities and regulations governing park use. , Park Rangers and U.S. Park Police are on duty to answer questions and help you to enjoy your visit.
Pierce Plantation 1820-1840
Cultivated fields and orchards spread out on the more than 1,200-acre tract above the creek. The spring house, family home, distillery, and flour mill remains as evidence of this large working estate along Rock Creek.
In 1794, Isaac Pierce, an enterprising millwright, acquired a large tract of land surrounding his mill site. Within two decades he established a diversified plantation, adding a saw mill, a distillery, and a new and larger flour mill to his farming activities. A working household of 26 persons was required to maintain this successful operation.
A log dam was constructed above Pierce Mill to provide a reliable source of power for the mills.
Water Power Wooden Wheel and Flowing Stream
The leisurely flow of creek water was diverted to the mill race where it was channeled and delivered to the water wheel. The wheel, placed in motion by the weight of the water that filled the wheel buckets, generated the 20 to 40 horsepower needed to keep the mills wooden machinery and heavy millstones in motion.
The illustrated breast wheel closely resembles the original water wheel used to power the mill.
Click or scan to see this page online
The momentum of the creeks flow and the weight of the water-filled buckets generated the mills power.
Periodically, destructive torrents of high creek water would wash away the timber crib dams, and milling operations would be interrupted until the dams were reconstructed.
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park, with its 1,754 acres of urban forest, offers many recreational opportunities and programs. Tours of Pierce Mill and guided nature hikes are frequently scheduled.
An extensive system of marked trails crisscrosses the park, including hiking, bridle trails, and a physical fitness exercise course. There are picnic sites and recreational fields for many sports. You may wish to read the posted calendar of seasonal activities and regulations governing park use.
Park Rangers and U.S. Park Police are on duty to answer questions and help you to enjoy your visit.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 18, 2016
2. Pierce Plantation Marker
It was located near 38° 56.44′ N, 77° 3.098′ W. Marker was in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It was in Rock Creek Park. It could be reached from Tilden Street Northwest west of Beach Drive Northwest, on the right when traveling west. The marker is some 200 feet north of the Peirce Mill on the Western Ridge Trail. The marker is near the intersection of Tilden and Shoemaker Streets Northwest. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 2401 Tilden Street Northwest, Washington DC 20008, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Pierce Mill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 18, 2016
4. Pierce Plantation Marker
The Peirce Mill can be seen in the background in this view to the south.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,739 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 6, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
