Maryland, Prince George's County, Laurel
![]()
The Patuxent River is the longest river that is located entirely in the state of Maryland. It spans 115 miles from the Piedmont area near the intersection of Howard, Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties to the Chesapeake Bay. Traveling through seven counties on its journey to the Chesapeake Bay, the river crosses the highly urbanized Baltimore/Washington corridor collecting runoff from the cities of Laurel, Bowie, and Columbia. The Patuxent widens to a navigable tidal estuary near the colonial seaport of Queen Anne in Prince George's County. The River spans over 2 miles in some areas from Queen Anne to the Chesapeake Bay.
The Patuxent River was first named "Pawtuxunt" from Captain John Smith's voyage upriver in 1608. Captain Smith got as far as Lyons Creek area, 40 miles from the Chesapeake. By the mid and late 1600's colonists spread upriver to Mt. Calvert and Billingsly Point, two colonial mansions approximately 44 miles from the Chesapeake. By the early 1700's, the Snowden iron ore furnace was shipping "pig iron" downriver from the current vicinity of the 1783 Montpelier Mansion.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission constructed two dams on the main branch in the mid 20th century. Brighton Dam was constructed 96 miles from the Chesapeake in 1943, impounding the waters of Triadelphia Reservoir. The T. Howard Duckett Dam was constructed in 1952 and is located outside of Laurel. This dam creates the Rocky Gorge Reservoir.
(Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.
The Patuxent River is the longest river that is located entirely in the state of Maryland. It spans 115 miles from the Piedmont area near the intersection of Howard, Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties to the Chesapeake Bay. Traveling through seven counties on its journey to the Chesapeake Bay, the river crosses the highly urbanized Baltimore/Washington corridor collecting runoff from the cities of Laurel, Bowie, and Columbia. The Patuxent widens to a navigable tidal estuary near the colonial seaport of Queen Anne in Prince George's County. The River spans over 2 miles in some areas from Queen Anne to the Chesapeake Bay.
The Patuxent River was first named "Pawtuxunt" from Captain John Smith's voyage upriver in 1608. Captain Smith got as far as Lyons Creek area, 40 miles from the Chesapeake. By the mid and late 1600's colonists spread upriver to Mt. Calvert and Billingsly Point, two colonial mansions approximately 44 miles from the Chesapeake. By the early 1700's, the Snowden iron ore furnace was shipping "pig iron" downriver from the current vicinity of the 1783 Montpelier Mansion.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission constructed two dams on the main branch in the mid 20th century. Brighton Dam was constructed 96 miles from the Chesapeake in 1943, impounding the waters of Triadelphia Reservoir. The T. Howard Duckett Dam was constructed in 1952 and is located outside of Laurel. This dam creates the Rocky Gorge Reservoir.
(Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.
For more than half a century, the Gramercy Gym stood on this site. Legendary boxing trainer and teacher, Cus D'Amato, trained world champions Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres along with countless other boxers who were champions in their own right. P.C. Richard and Son salutes them all.
Upon This Site Stood The Original 
1984 Summer Olympic Games. Team Gold - Individual Silver Equestrian Team Jumping. Owners: Terry & Sue Williams.
An old Indian trail used by travelers to Fort Niagara, widened for wagon use about 1800, later a stage route from Batavia to Niagara.
Site of Stone Marking the Northernmost Point of the Transit Surveyed by Joseph Ellicott c. 1800 for the Holland Land Company.
Tonawanda Feeder Canal supplied water for the Erie Canal, Shelby mills, and Village of Medina power 1824-1919.
You are standing across the street from land that Harriet Brice, a “free woman of color,” purchased in 1864. Together with her husband, George Brice, she struggled to farm the property during the Civil War. Although we had gained her freedom sometime before 1860, George Brice did not escape slavery until 1861 when he fled to Union lines. In 1863, he joined the 6th Infantry, United States Colored Troops.
This village — site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first capital of the Republic of Texas — began in 1822 as a ferry crossing. Here the historic La Bahia Road (now Ferry Street) spanned the Brazos River.
Hotel Chandler, 1914
Raged around this point April 2, 1781
between Cherokee Indians and settlers.
Loosed by Mrs. James Robertson, dogs
from the Fort attacked the Indians
allowing settlers to escape to the Fort.
Many were killed including
Captian James Leiper.
Consider Peabody 1817 Became part of William Gray foundry torn down 1952 for park. Flaghorse collars were made nearby.
First Post Office opened 1846. Incorporated in 1903. Fire company organized in 1906. Public water line from Lake Ontario 1924.
Capt. Don Pedro, Father Fray Juan Crespi, fourteen soldiers, and a Christian Indian, camped here and took a latitude sighting of the Golden Gate.
The West was pioneered by remarkable men, one of whom was Francis Marion “Borax” Smith. A Wisconsin farm boy, he became one of the great entrepreneurs of California and Nevada. By 1890 he dominated the borax industry and his trademark, the 20-Mule Team, was known across America. Borax Smith’s life shows how a person with a lively imagination, a willingness to take risks on a large scale, and a strong will to succeed and can accomplish great things.
This church founded under authority of Bishop Kip, first Episcopal Bishop for California, has given uninterrupted service to this community since
