MARYLAND MILESTONESMain StreetS & Miracle MileS Heritage route

MARYLAND

MILESTONES

The Anacostia Trails Heritage Area is filled with an architectural history that tells the story of the region’s growth, as well as the legacy of America’s early experiments in planned communities. Explore unique milestones on our “main streets” and “miracle miles.”

The history of the region begins along its roads - such as Bladensburg where the turnpike brought about development of taverns and markets. George Washington House and Market Master store sit in the historic core of Bladensburg. Further north, Rossborough Inn sits along U.S. Route 1 on the University of Maryland campus. Large plantion homes such as Montpelier Mansion and Riversdale House Museum still mark colonial life along the routes.

During the late 1800’s, transportation development motivated the region’s architecture and planning. First, the railroad led to new communities such as Hyattsville and College Park. Later, trolley lines would influence Riverdale Park and Mount Rainier. When

the automobile arrived in the early Twentieth century, the landscape was changed to accomodate. U.S. Route 1 became a major through road. Motels, restaurants, and drive-in movie theaters - the miracle mile - were all common. Today, unfortunately, most have disappeared. Small vestiages remain in College Park and Beltsville. U.S. Route 1, once the turnpike, became the Main Street for many communities.

Much of the southern part of the Heritage Area was defined by the trolley that ran from Washington D.C. to Laurel. Today, remnants of that legacy can be found in Hyattsville’s architecture.

Greenbelt is a National Historic Landmark community. As a planned development during the Great Depression, the city maintains its art deco and international style architecture along with walkable paths.

During the 1920’s and 1930’s developments spurred on by the automobile led to communities such as Greenbelt, a planned “utopian” community from the Great Depression’s work relief programs; Berwyn Heights, a stalled and later restarted residential community; and University Park, where developers targeted government employees and their cars to move to the new communites.

From the 1960’s to the 1980’s the areas of Queens Chapel and Prince George’s Plaza in Hyattsville grew in response to new roads and the Metro subway system and the area retains some of its “mid-century” architecture Today, roads still define the main streets and the miracle miles. Modern developments on U.S. Route 1, such as the redevelopment in Hyattsville in the Arts District have started a new architectural language for the road. Bikes and transit options are now leading to revitalized main streets and miracle miles.

HERITAgE ROuTES

The following Heritage Routes are driving and walking tours which connect multiple sites and themes. Maps and brochures for each route are available at Maryland Milestones Visitors Center and also at www.marylandmilestones.org.

• Battle of Bladensburg and the War of 1812• Cultural Crossroads Heritage Route• Farms & Fields: Agriculture Heritage Route• Festivals & Farmers Markets Heritage Route• From Hot Air Balloons to Steps on the Moon• Linking the Nation: Transportation & Communication• Painting the Town: Arts & Humanities Heritage Route• The Nation’s Main Street: Exploring Communities• Urban Outdoor Adventures Heritage Route

MARYLAND MILESTONESMain StreetS & Miracle MileS Heritage route

MARYLAND

MILESTONES

Historic Districts

Spring�eld Road

ADELPHI

UNIVERSITYPARK

RIVERDALEPARK

NORTHBRENTWOOD

MOUNTRAINIER

HYATTSVILLE

GREENBELT

COLMARMANOR

COLLEGE PARK

BRENTWOOD BLADENSBURG

EDMONSTON

BERWYNHEIGHTS

BELTSVILLE

LAUREL

COTTAGECITY

LANGLEY PARK

PatuxentNationalWildlife

ResearchRefuge

GreenbeltNational

Park

GoddardSpaceFlightCenter

BeltsvilleAgricultural

ResearchCenter

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Muirkirk Road

Powder Mill

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Beaver Dam Road

Soil Conservation Road

Good Luck Road

Good Luck Rd

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University Blvd

Greenbelt Road

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Main Street

University ofMaryland

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Anne A rund el County

Howard Co unty

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Heritage Route Stops

Historic Districts

Metro Stations

Anacostia Tributary Trail System

Parks

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MAIN STREET & MIRACLE MILESHERITAgE ROuTE MAPwww.marylandmilestones.org

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Photos: Greenbelt, Lustine, and George Washington House - A. MarcavitchGreenbelt Theater - Matt JohnsonTrolley - courtesy National Capitol Trolley MuseumHyattsville - S.L. Rogers

Berwyn Heights Town Hall/Museum 5700 Berwyn Road, Berwyn Heights, MD Operating Hours: M-F, 9-5pm 301-474-5000 (http://berwynheightshistory.wordpress.com)

Maryland Milestones Visitors Center (Information Center & General Offices) 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville MD 301-887-0777, info@marylandmilestones.org

Other Referenced Stopping Points Many of the other points referenced in this Heritage Route are residential and commercial areas. We encourage you to park and walk these communities and experience their relationship to our history and culture. For walking tour maps or more details on locations of parking, please contact Maryland Milestones.

Bladensburg Waterfront Park 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD Operating Hours: Daily, 8:30-5 301-779-0371, www.pgparks.com (Historic buildings noted are privately owned.)

Riversdale House Museum 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park, MD Operating Hours: M-F, 9-5; Sun, 12-3:30 301-864-0420, history.pgparks.com (Town Center and Trolley Trail nearby.)

Greenbelt Community Ctr & Greenbelt Museum15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD

Operating Hours: M-Sa, 9-10p, Sun, 9-7p 301-474-9744;, www.greenbeltmd.gov (Greenbelt Museum Tours: Sunday, 1-5pm)

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This project has been financed in part with State Funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.