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Seneca Quarry

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Seneca Quarry Book Release Set For February

Book by historian Garrett Peck tells the history of the Poolesville site that birthed the stones of the Smithsonian Castle more than a century ago

The real story of Smithsonian Castle is the story of its stones, according to historian and author Garrett Peck. His latest book, The Smithsonian Castle and The Seneca Quarry, aspires to take readers through the history of the quarry that produced the signature red sandstone of The Smithsonian Castle. What’s left of the quarry sits overrun with vegetation on Seneca Creek State Park property in Poolesville. The 144-page book is scheduled for paperback release on Feb. 5, according to a publicist for book’s publisher The History Press. Peck, who is from Alexandria, VA, has written three other books, including The Potomac River: A History and Guide. Peck leads public tours of the quarry. --- Related Content:  Tree Falls into Wall of Historic …

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Tree Falls into Wall of Historic Site at Seneca Creek State Park

Seneca Quarry produced the stone for the Smithsonian Castle more than a century ago.

A tree has fallen onto a historic site at Seneca Creek State Park -- the remains of the quarry that produced the signature red blocks of the Smithsonian Castle on the mall in Washington, DC, more than a century ago. Seneca Quarry was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. Photos provided by historian Garrett Peck show a large trunk on top of a wall of brick at the site. Peck leads tours of the quarry and is finishing up a book about it. He said he noticed the damage on Saturday and notified park officials. “Short term, the tree has got to come out,” Peck said. “It's got to come out soon. The longer it sits there leaning up against the quarry wall, the more pressure it puts on it, the more likely it is to collapse…

etch2

10:48 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

As a kid, spending summers at my grand parents cottage along the creek, this was one of my favorite places to explore...   more ›

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