Potomac Connections

George Washington lived in and traveled from this region as he pursued westward expansion and sought to connect the Atlantic Seaboard with the frontier West. His efforts to use the Potomac River as a commercial artery influenced industrialization and development in the 1800s and beyond. Today, wild landscapes intermingle with urban areas, as stands of oak, tulip poplar, and paw paw trees and varied wetlands contrast with the Piedmont, highways, and a growing metropolitan area. Along the upper tidal Potomac, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network offers connections with the nation’s history, culture, and ecology through hiking, bicycling, and water trails that bring people close to the river and the region’s distinctive landscapes.

Alexandria, Virginia · United States