Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to do when we arrive?
You may wish to visit the National Colonial Farm, an outdoor living history museum. The farm depicts life for an ordinary tobacco planting family in Prince George's County in the 1770s. Skilled interpreters lead tours of the National Colonial Farm, highlighting the colonial structures, fields, gardens and heritage breed animals. Structures located within the colonial site are open to the public and include a circa 1770 farm dwelling, an 18th century tobacco barn, a smokehouse, and an out-kitchen. The kitchen garden features 18th century varieties of herbs, flowers, and vegetables.

Weekend visitors to the National Colonial Farm may see sewing, cooking, spinning, dyeing, candlemaking, gardening, woodworking and colonial games. To find out which activities are happening during your visit, please call the Visitor Center. Guided tours of the National Colonial Farm are offered at 1:00 p.m. on weekends. To learn more about the National Colonial Farm, please click here.

The Accokeek Foundation also maintains a number of trails in Piscataway Park. Trail brochures are available in the Visitor Center. To learn more about the specific trails, please click here.

You may wish to take a guided tour of the Ecoystem Farm. The Robert Ware Straus Ecosystem Farm is the Accokeek Foundation's USDA-certified organic vegetable farm. Located on an eight-acre field along the Potomac River, the farm is a model for farming for the future. To learn more about the Ecosystem Farm, please click here. A guided tour of the Ecosystem Farm is offered at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

What is your admission fee?
Admission to the National Colonial Farm, Ecosystem Farm, and hiking trails for non-members is $2.00 for adults, $0.50 for children ages 3 to 12. Children 3 and under are free. Members may visit for free. There is no fee to fish, and there is no parking fee.

What are the benefits of membership?
The Accokeek Foundation is a member-supported, nonprofit organization, originally founded to help preserve the view from Mount Vernon, as it was in George Washington's time. Your tax-deductible contribution supports our multi-faceted educational programs in history, ecology, and agriculture that serve thousands of school children and visitors annually. You'll also be supporting research, enhancement and maintenance of the 18th century National Colonial Farm; maintenance of hiking trails and the fishing pier; preservation of various heritage breed animals; and the research and work of the Ecosystem Farm, a model of organic and sustainable agriculture.

Your $25 or $45 donation will purchase an Individual, or Family Membership, respectively. Members can visit the site for free, receive discounts on classes and workshops, receive invitations to 'Friends Only' events, receive quarterly newsletters with the latest information about the Foundation and finally, members receive a 10% discount at our gift shop, where we have many unique items.

How do I become a member?
To become a member, please click here and click the "Donate Now" button.

Can I bring my dog?
Because of livestock and poultry on the National Colonial Farm, we discourage visitors from taking dogs onto the colonial site itself.

Can I fish there? Do I need a fishing license? Is there a fee to fish?
You may fish from our fishing pier located near the Visitor Center. Simply sign in at the Visitor Center. You do need a fishing license. You can get a license through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Fishing licenses also are available throughout Maryland at sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops, and other businesses associated with recreational fishing, hunting or boating activities. There is no fee for fishing at the Accokeek Foundation.

Are we allowed to touch the animals? Can we feed the animals?
We do not encourage you to touch the animals without staff supervision. The animals have special diets and visitors are not permitted to feed the animals. To learn more about the Heritage Breed Animals, please click here.

Can we ride our bikes on the walking trails?
The trails terrains are mainly for walking. You may ride your bikes at your own risk.