Anacostia Trails Heritage Area

Spring blooms frame Riversdale House Museum in the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area.

Sarah M. Fritz

Quick Facts

Location:

4318 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Significance:

Anacostia Trails Heritage Area highlights nationally significant transportation, agriculture, and diverse community heritage shaping the Chesapeake Bay watershed's history and cultural landscape.

Designation:

State-Certified Heritage Area; Chesapeake Gateways Network Heritage Area

MANAGED BY:

Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc.

Amenities

7 listed

Boat Rental, Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Groceries/Convenience Items, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Playground, Public Transit

Anacostia Trails Heritage Area is a Chesapeake Gateways Heritage Area and one of Maryland’s state-certified heritage tourism districts. Managed by the non-profit Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc., the organization celebrates the region's dynamic history through its many public history programs, connecting visitors to stories of innovation, resilience, and cultural identity. Spanning all of Prince George’s County, Maryland, the region encompasses vibrant towns and Main Street connected by historic transportation corridors and multi-modal trails.

Visitors can explore historic sites, parks, museums, trails, and community centers highlighting themes such as the national impact of Battle of Bladensburg, early aviation at College Park Airport, Civil Rights history and African American communities, and the origins and legacy of agricultural and conservation innovation at Beltsville. The heritage area is home to the University of Maryland and Bowie State University as well as the NARA Archives. From Native lifeways and colonial settlement to 20th-century planned suburbs and space exploration at NASA Goddard, the heritage area invites discovery through self-guided routes, walking tours, abundant public art, and annual special events.

Anacostia Trails Heritage Area advances the Chesapeake Gateways mission by helping people connect to the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the greater Washington, DC area. The area is traversed by the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, Washington-Rochambeau Historic Trail, and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail connecting local history with broader regional narratives.

To learn more about sites, events, and programs throughout the heritage area, please visit their website.