Today I participated in a group hike and received a guided tour of the historic Smallwood Retreat House at Smallwood State Park in southern Maryland. This park is 628 acres and includes “a marina, boat launching ramps, a picnic area, camping area, pavilions, two playgrounds, and nature trails” plus an engaging history of the restored home and garden of Revolutionary War General William Smallwood, who served with George Washington and maintained a plantation of 4,500 acres here. This large property was referred to as Mattawoman Plantation in colonial times and the current park is a legacy of the original Smallwood family holding.
History
This large plantation produced tobacco and food grains, which William inherited from his affluent father Bayne, who was a politician, militia leader, merchant and planter. Smallwood’s Maryland property was just 12 miles down the Potomac River from George Washington’s 8,000-acre Mount Vernon estate in Virginia, and they were reportedly friends – both members of the American aristocracy, referred to as “landed gentry.” During their lifetimes, 7% of the Maryland population had this economic distinction, 16% were middling planters, 42% were small farmers, tenant farmers and laborers and 29% were enslaved. Born in 1732 and a life-long bachelor, Smallwood held elected office in Annapolis before and after the war, and notedly was governor for three years, all keeping him away from his plantation for long periods of time. After his death, the plantation was broken up and parts were sold to cover debts, since he had no heir to continue the business. History is filled with stories of these large plantation owners who had to finance their enormous tracks of land with high interest loans from English banks. Some historians have noted that some of these difficult loans were part of the motivation of wealthy landowners to separate from Great Britain, in addition to high taxes, unaccountable colonial governments, the oppressive Royal military on land and sea, and a lack of representation in Parliament.
Today
The large and popular marina at Smallwood State Park is on Mattawoman Creek, just off the Potomac River. There is a nice bait shop and plenty of parking for launching fishing boats or kayaks. The Discovery Center, which is in the marina area, is an excellent place to learn about local plants and animals and features a few large water tanks for playful turtles. The very active Maryland Terrapin (see photo) swimming here was clearly enjoying its stay. There is an art center, an historic tobacco barn with displays about the property, large and clean bathrooms, and a campsite with six small rental cabins.
The location is very convenient for people who live in the metro-Washington DC area and well worth a visit to experience nature near the Potomac with some interesting early Maryland history.
Atlas Great Outdoors 