Information Panel: A Hilltop for Heroes and Horse Thieves

Information Panel: A Hilltop for Heroes and Horse Thieves

NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

Amenities

3 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Public Transit, Wheelchair Accessible

A Hilltop for Heroes and Horse Thieves wayside panel describes an early resident of what would become Meridian Hill Park: It is perhaps no surprise that Commodore David Porter, hero of the War of 1812, chose Meridian Hill on which to build his estate. From this knoll, Porter had a direct line of sight to the President's mansion. Though no match for the grand buildings it looked down upon, Porter's manor house was a handsome brick and stucco structure with a large front portico. Years later, while in use as an Army hospital, Porter's mansion burned to the ground. It was never rebuilt. 

The grand vistas of Meridian Hill would later attract another colorful character. Joaquin Miller, lawyer, poet, and by some accounts, horse thief, built a log cabin on this site. The "finest view in Washington" did not satisfy Miller for long, however. He wandered frequently, taking his poetry to Europe, Alaska, and California before settling on Oregon. In a seeming reflection of this restless tenant, the cabin was moved to a new location in 1912. Today it rests on a serene bank of Rock Creek, a setting that would surely have appealed to Miller's poetic nature.

---

For more information about Meridian Hill Park, visit the Meridian Hill Park Landing Page on the Rock Creek Park Website.