First State National Historical Park I (3/14/2021)

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Since we were headed to Delaware to shop, we decided to take a short hike nearby.

Initially created as the First State National Monument by President Barack Obama in 2013, the goal of preserving this area of Beaver Valley to ensure the scenic rural beauty along Brandywine Creek remained for future generations as the cities of Wilmington and Philadelphia continued to expand. In 2015 the park was re-designated as the First State National Historical Park and includes historical properties in Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, and Lewes, DE. This is the first and only National Park in the State of Delaware.

We parked on Ramsey Road and walked through a cornfield,
then turned upstream along Brandywine Creek

The signage still says National Monument

The Brandywine Trail first cuts through a field

The trail then crosses the road to follow the
bank of Brandywine Creek

Nature's sculpture

We turned around at "the beach" where a tributary stream flowed
into Brandywine Creek, just past the Smith Bridge Picnic Area

Um, doesn't look as artistic in this photo...

The hike along Brandywine Creek is very pleasant, except that there is a dirt bike trail on the opposite side of the creek with very noisy bikes roaring by on occasion.