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Visit a section of river between Monocacy and Great Falls Tavern...
Monocacy River
Whites Ferry, Md.
Balls Bluff National Cemetery
Riverbend Park
Great Falls Tavern
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East of the Blue Ridge, just below Point of Rocks, Maryland, the Potomac enters the Piedmont Province. This picturesque land is filled with rolling farmland, wooded upland and narrow stream valleys, but is seeing a great deal of new development as well. While about half of the area remains under cultivation, the area is increasingly struggling with issues surrounding new development.
The area is also home to one of America's first examples of sustainable development. After seeing the soil exhaustion created by the farming practices of Tidewater farmers, John Binn of Loudon County, Virginia developed the Loudon system based on a three field rotation between wheat, cattle and clover.
At White's Ferry the General Jubal Early operates as the only regularly operating ferry on the Potomac River. A few miles further south on the Virginia side of the river is Balls Bluff National Cemetery, where the battle of Ball's Bluff took place in October 1861. For the Canal enthusiast, the town of Seneca makes an interesting day trip. When the canal was first opened to traffic in 1831, Seneca was the "head of navigation" until the construction continued further west. |
