What Is Peirce Mill?
This is a historic grist mill in the heart of Rock Creek Park!
What Makes It Historical?
In 1788, Pennsylvania Quaker, Isaac Peirce, brought his young family to this 150-acre property and built an estate that would come to include this mill in 1829! Mr. Peirce didn’t know how to mill, but he sure knew how to make money off it by leasing it out! Using a patented Oliver Evans system of water-powered belts and gears, a mill with this system could practically run all day long!
Operated by Charles & Alcibiades White, along with one day laborer, the mill churned out 150 bushels of grain per day, into the 1890s when the government began buying up land to create Rock Creek Park! The White brothers continued to lease the mill from the government until the main shaft broke in 1897! From 1905 until 1934, the mill served as a teahouse for parkgoers, until park superintendant, C. Marshall Finnan opted to restore the old mill. Two years and $26,614 later, the mill was grinding grain again! It ran intermittently from October 27, 1936 through World War II, stopping in 1958, restarting in 1970, closing again in 1993, then reopening in 2011 as a working interpretive center where folks can learn about historic milling!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Rock Creek Park!
- Donate to the Rock Creek Conservancy!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
2401 Tilden Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The mill is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 PM until 4:00 PM!
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