Discover the Pioneering Conservation Legacy of
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
Saturday, October 1st, 9:35am arrival – 12:00 noon, with optional events after 12:00pm
Trip sponsored by the Cornwall Conservation Commission
Visit Description:
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is the only national park in America to tell the story of conservation history and how land stewardship has evolved in the United States. Our October 1st visit will be a unique opportunity– tailored to the conservation interests of our group–and will include a ranger-guided walk along an old carriage road through a portion of the sustainably-managed forest. The rangers will emphasize the conservation history of the Park and current land management issues including invasive plant species control, climate change and emerald ash borer mitigation strategies.
Schedule of Visit:
9:35am Meet at Billings Farm & Museum parking lot no later than 9:35am.
9:45am – Enter the Billings Farm & Museum to watch A Place in the Land film (summary below).
10:30am – Walk up to Carriage Barn Visitor Center to start guided hike with a ranger. Focus on conservation history of the park as well as land/forest management of the park.
12:00pm – Optional (a) Guided Mansion tour including acclaimed landscape paintings that influenced the conservation movement (will end no later than 1:00pm—limited to 12 people, advance signup needed). b) Walk the forest trails and carriage roads on your own. About 20 miles of trails crisscross Mount Tom, with trail maps available at the visitor center (no bicycles allowed on Park trails).
1:00pm – Optional visits on your own. (a). The Mansion is open for visitors without reservation or admission fee between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. (b) The Billings Farm & Museum, a working dairy farm and museum of agricultural and rural life which shares the National Park’s tradition of land stewardship, is open until 5:00pm. The Farm has an admission charge of $17/$15 seniors 62 and older or (c) Walk the forest trails and carriage roads.
Other Details:
Drive to National Park in your own vehicles; car-pooling encouraged; rain or shine; $8.00 suggested donation to cover group guided tour fee; additional donations welcomed to support Cornwall Conservation Commission activities; very limited food concessions at Park so consider packing a lunch; 1.5 hour drive from Cornwall Town Hall to the Park. Information Sheet about Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller!
(Sign up by Sept. 22 to branchkcpc@gmail.com for visit; limit of 24 attendees; indicate if you want
to also take the Mansion tour; contact branchkcpc@gmail.com if you have questions)