Upper Marlboro, MD – Piscataway Village, Broad Creek and St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Historic District were recently added to the federal government’s list of important American historic districts.  These historic districts, which are among some of the region’s oldest neighborhoods, were recognized on March 20th  during a meeting of the Prince George’s Historic Preservation Commission in Upper Marlboro.  

“One of our County’s greatest assets is our historic legacy,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “I want to thank the Department of Interior and congratulate the Prince George’s County Historic Preservation Commission as well as the communities of Fort Washington, Clinton, and Croom for achieving this great honor. This is a tremendous accomplishment and I encourage County residents of all ages to visit these historic districts and learn about our County.”

“Each of these districts is representative of Prince George’s County’s rich history and this designation ensures our historic resources are protected,” said Prince George’s County Council Chair Andrea C. Harrison.  “I am grateful to the Prince George’s County Preservation Commission for their hard work in bringing this to fruition and I encourage all Prince Georgians to learn about, visit and explore these historic districts.”

Selection by the National Register requires years of work by communities and financial help from the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.  The neighborhoods are vetted by County Executive Rushern Baker’s office, the County’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), the Maryland Historical Trust, and finally the U.S. Department of Interior.  Broad Creek, located in Fort Washington, is in County Council Member Obie Patterson’s District 8.  The St. Thomas community and Piscataway Village are in County Council Member Mel Franklin’s District 9.  

“Preserving our history is important,” said Council Member Patterson.  “This designation continues our efforts to preserve and bring national prominence to the role that Broad Creek played in American history during the birth of our Nation.  This is very exciting for Prince George’s County.”  

“I am extremely pleased for the selection of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish and Piscataway Village as National Historic Districts,” said Council Member Franklin.  “Our county has a vast richness of historic and cultural traditions that should be cherished by all future generations for their significance to defining who we are as Prince George’s County residents.  The formal recognition of the historical significance of Piscataway Village and St. Thomas Episcopal Parish means the story of these areas will become better known throughout the region and beyond.”

“Getting more historic districts designated in Prince George’s is one of our top priorities,” said Dave Turner, Chairman of the Commission.  “Historic Districts create great tourist and economic opportunities for the County as well as preserve our history for future generations of Prince Georgians.”

In 1707, Piscataway was chosen to become a tobacco port in the newly established Prince George’s County.  It was built near Mayone, the chief settlement of the Piscataway-Conoy Indians.  At a time when early Maryland was strongly Protestant, this community was built around St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  

“Piscataway has preserved the last remaining colonial main street in Maryland,” said Dr. Ray Swyndle during the National Register ceremony.  Swyndle chairs the town’s historic committee and lives there. He thanked the County’s preservation staff and the Commission for helping with the town’s nomination.    

St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Historic District is near the Patuxent River in south County.  Two lovely frame structures in the community once housed a learning community for African American students.  Progressive educators built the advanced vocational school for DC and local residents at a time when skilled trade training was denied to blacks in Washington.  The colonial Episcopal church of St. Thomas was changed into a beautiful Victorian structure in 1852 and had served as the home church of Thomas John Claggett.  He was the first Episcopal bishop to be consecrated on American soil.  St. Thomas’ spawned several other churches in Prince George’s during its 267-year history.  The Tayman tobacco barn, also in the district, is on the National Register.

Close to National Harbor, yet centuries away, is the Broad Creek District.  It boasts the first footprints of settlement along the Potomac for prehistoric peoples, African Americans and Europeans that lie just nine miles from the U.S. Capitol.  In 1664, slaves were sent there to clear it for tobacco.  At Broad Creek, African Americans blended cultures with Indians and whites.  Repeated again and again during U.S. history, this blending story became the heritage of millions of Americans.