John Marshall Birthplace Park

Description

This quaint park commemorates the birthplace of John Marshall, complete with a short nature trail that takes the visitor along a wooded stream through open agricultural fields to a small memorial to John Marshall. En route, check the creek for tawny emperors and the woods along the trail for yellow-billed cuckoo, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, and northern cardinal.

The open fields along the trail hold killdeer, mockingbirds and chipping sparrows, seemingly spied on by red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures flying overhead. In the fall, yellow-rumped warblers and ruby-crowned kinglets join the resident songbirds as well as other warblers, such as black-throated green, that drop in from time to time. These open fields also host numerous common whitetail dragonflies and brilliant eastern tiger swallowtails.

Directions

From C.M. Crockett Park, return north 0.5 miles on Rogues Road. Go right (southeast) on Rt. 643/Meetze Road for 0.9 miles to SR 28/Catlett Road. Turn right and follow SR 28 southwest for 1.3 miles to Germantown Road. Go left (south) 0.3 miles to John Marshall Birthplace Park.