sandienc

The area around Fort Washington had lead a storied history. General George Washington would often visit friends in the area, and personally proposed a fortification there that was eventually to become Fort Warburton, built in 1808. Fort Warburton was destroyed by the British in 1814, during the War of 1812. It was reconstructed in 1824 as Fort Washington.

In 1857, the first light was placed at Fort Washington, and consisted of an 18 1/2 foot cast iron pole, upon which a small light was hoisted at night. Protests from mariners followed, as this arrangement proved inadequate. In February, 1870, prefabricated, frame lighthouse was built to replace the light post. It was fitted with a sixth order Fresnel lens. A 32 foot tall fog bell tower was constructed in 1882. A keeper’s dwelling was added in 1885.

Construction around the fort began to obscure the light from the lighthouse, and in 1900, the Lighthouse Board requested funds to construct an improved light.

The funds were not allocated and in 1901, the bell tower was reinforced to hold the weight of the sixth order lens, the light was moved, and the lighthouse tower was torn down.  Some time later, the keeper's house was removed, as well.  The sixth order lens was also replaced by a small red light.

Approximately twenty years ago, the love of my life (who is now deceased) took me to Luray Caverns. I was so happy.

This cavern isn't 'rustic' as all the others I've visited.  The aisles are wide and there is good illumination.  The lights are turned off during specific presentations.  There is a naturally formed organ with pipes that plays beautiful music all by itself.

Genuine Moonbows appear in only two places in the world; one place is Victoria Falls in Africa, and the other place is Cumberland Falls, Kentucky (Corbin). According to tourist booklets, a moonbow is more likely to be seen under the following conditions: cooler weather, full moon, abundant spray from the waterfall and after midnight.

I visited the falls in October and I waited and waited and waited. I never saw a moonbow on either night that I was there. However, I enjoyed this trip immensely. Cumberland Falls is absolutely beautiful and the falls are definitely a Photo Opportunity!!!!

This is definitely a good place to visit. Seeing the sites of seven states from one location is really interesting. There is a nice man-made waterfall on the property as well and two foot-bridges.

Ruby Falls is located within a cavern. I’ve seen many caverns in my life and after awhile they all begin to look alike. My reason for visiting this particular site was for the opportunity to see Ruby Falls. I don’t regret making the trip (this is why I rated it ‘worth seeing’, but I was disappointed. It was a very, very busy tourist day and we, the tourists, were herded inside like rounds of cattle through congested, one-person at a time walkways. We walked to a certain point and waited and waited until the groups ahead of us had moved a bit farther inside the cavern. After close to 2 hours, my group finally reached the circular path around the falls. The lights illuminating upward are turned off until your group gets to the circle and bam! in about one minute the lights are turned off again. I was unable to take a decent photograph.

After I finally got out of that place, I visited Rock City (nearby) and thoroughly enjoyed myself there. The waterfall at Rock City, although man-made, is far more attractive.

Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge mountain range and a globally recognized nature preserve. Stand head and shoulders above the surrounding region, be awe struck by 360-degree views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge retreating to the horizon, and discover sanctuary for the human spirit.

Maryland’s second highest free-falling waterfall is located on the Falling Branch of Deer Creek in northern Harford County. The falls were well known to local native Americans and settlers, but in recent times the area was relatively unknown because the land was privately owned. Through the work of citizens groups, businesses, schools and government agencies the Falling Branch Area was added to Rocks State Park in 1993 and open to the public.
Falling Branch passes through a steep gorge known as Kilgore Rocks, where the falls have developed in relatively erosion-resistant Prettyboy schist. This formation was previously known as the upper pelitic schist of the Wissahickon formation. The falls are variously named by local residents Falling Creek Falls, Falling Branch Falls and Kilgore Falls.

This mountain park is located nine miles north of Oakland, Maryland and contains some of Maryland’s most breathtaking scenery. The Youghiogheny River flows along the park’s borders, passing through shaded rocky gorges and creating rippling rapids. Muddy Creek Falls is a crashing 53-foot waterfall – a spectacular sight. Tall hemlocks dominate the silent woods. The meandering trails through Swallow Falls guide hikers to some of the most breath-taking scenery in Western Maryland.

Cunningham Falls State Park, located in the Catoctin Mountains, is known for its history and scenic beauty, as well as its 78-foot cascading waterfall. The Falls are located one half mile from the lake in the Houck Area via the Falls Trail.

Before the first Europeans arrived, many small Native American tribes farmed, hunted and fished the area. Tradition says the name Catoctin came from the tribe, the Kittoctons, who once lived at the foot of the mountains near the Potomac River. By the time the settlers began to arrive in the Monocacy River Valley, Native Americans were seldom seen.

Early settlers used timber from the forests to make charcoal to fuel the Catoctin Iron Furnace. Too many years of clear-cutting and unscientific farming practices contributed to the overuse and destruction of the land.

The Great Falls of the Potomac are located west of Washington, DC in Great Falls Park. This series of cascading falls has developed on the Potomac River in the Wissahickon Formation. The Wissahickon consists of resistant metamorphic rocks including schists, gneisses, metagraywackes and metaconglomerates. These rocks date from the late Precambrian and are about 750 million years old. The Falls formed when sea level dropped during the last Ice Age, causing the Potomac to downcut its valley.