Rock Creek Park, created in 1890 in Washington, D.C., preserves one of the capital’s oldest and largest natural landscapes along the valley of Rock Creek. Established through the efforts of civic leaders such as Charles C. Glover and signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison, it was only the nation’s third national park and the oldest natural urban park in the National Park System. Expanded by the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, it combines forested ravines, recreation facilities, bridges, and historic sites including Peirce Mill. The park remains a heavily used urban refuge that links Washington’s civic history with a much older creek-shaped landscape.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Washington, District of Columbia · USA