Picture the rolling hills of Oxon Hill Farm. This isn’t just any farm. Oxon Hill Farm boasts a rich history stretching back centuries. Long before European settlers arrived the Piscataway Indian people cultivated the land along the Potomac River. Imagine their lives here. Their connection to this very soil.
In 1787 Nicholas Lingan acquired a large portion of the land. He likely oversaw the construction of the Mount Welby house. This remarkable structure stands as a testament to the era. It’s a beautiful two-story brick building with Italianate detailing. You can see it today a captivating glimpse into the past.
For generations the land changed hands. John Addison and his descendants grew tobacco oats and corn. They relied on enslaved people for their labor. This is a painful but essential part of the farm’s story. We must acknowledge it. We must learn from it.
Dr Samuel DeButts an Irish immigrant purchased a section in 1811. He renamed it Mount Welby. He continued the practice of slavery. The farm thrived under his stewardship but its prosperity was built on injustice.
The federal government acquired the property in 1891. It became a therapeutic farm for patients at St Elizabeths Hospital. It was called Godding Croft. It offered a unique form of therapy. Patients worked the land finding healing in the rhythm of nature.
Farming ceased in the 1950s. The land eventually transferred to the National Park Service. In 1967 Oxon Cove Park opened. For a time it was known as the Oxon Hill Children’s Farm.
The farm today is a living museum. It showcases agricultural practices of the past. It tells stories of the people who worked this land. It demonstrates farming methods from horse-drawn plows to modern techniques. The farm animals add to the experience. Cows horses and chickens roam freely. Visitors can get up close.
Explore the historic barns. The stable. The feed building. The livestock buildings. The visitor activity barn. Discover the history woven into every structure. Imagine the lives lived here. The work done here. The stories whispered on the breeze.
Oxon Hill Farm is more than just a farm. It is a journey through time. It’s a place of reflection. A place of learning. A place to connect with the land. A place where history comes alive.