Established in 1969, the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge was the first refuge in the nation created specifically to protect the bald eagle. In 2006, it was renamed the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Elizabeth Spears Hartwell, who in the late 1960s recognized the Mason Neck peninsula as a safe haven for bald eagles along the Potomac River. Through writing, public speaking, and a citizen crusade, she convinced federal, state, and local officials of the value of protecting the Neck and the bald eagle for future generations. Her work helped conserve over 5,000 acres of the Mason Neck peninsula as a national wildlife refuge, Mason Neck State Park, and Pohick Bay Regional Park, earning her the nickname "The Eagle Lady." Today the refuge remains a haven for bald eagles, great blue heron, and many other animal and plant species, reflecting the efforts of those who secured the Mason Neck peninsula for future generations and of citizens nationwide who have advanced conservation through activism, advocacy, and personal sacrifice.