This Maryland Trail Passes Through Historic Landmarks Most People Have Never Heard Of

The US, and the East Coast in particular, has many hiking trails that correlate with historical areas. Of course, as a relatively young country (in the eyes of most of the world at least), "historical" means something different here than in other places. For something to be considered historical in the United States, it generally means that it has to be at least fifty years old. So, what does this leave? A battlefield that really just looks like an empty grass field with an important-looking sign on it? Or a building with aged architecture that has clearly been renovated more than once? Yes to all of the above, but before anyone dismisses these places, you’d be surprised how well some trails can wrap multiple landmarks together in a deeply fascinating package, all on a well-maintained trail with gorgeous views.

This is where the Monument Knob via the Appalachian Trail in Maryland comes in. By name alone, this trail carries a certain amount of promises. First, the Monument Knob promises a monument, but the weight of it all comes with the Appalachian Trail. This trail is the longest footpath in the world (meant for only hiking), covering 2,197.4 miles and multiple states.

The Monument Knob-specific part of this trail in Maryland is a six-mile out-and-back trail that takes about two hours and forty-five minutes. It’s considered to be an easy to moderate hike, the main thing to watch out for being hidden roots and rocks (especially for runners in the autumn when the leaves fall and cover the ground). Peaceful and quiet for the most part, the popularity of this trail comes with the surprising historical touches along the way.

Most obviously, there’s the Washington Monument found at the end of the trail. Originally built in 1827 as a tribute to the first president of the USA, this stone monument was worn down and vandalized over the years until it was practically a ruin. It was then rebuilt in 1882, but crumbled again. Finally, the land was purchased in 1920, and the monument was restored to a 40-foot-tall stone structure in 1936. Today, it is part of Washington Monument State Park and sits near the National Road, the first highway in the United States made with federal funds. 

The trail’s close proximity to the National Road is largely why there are so many historical buildings along its path. Another is the old Dahlgren Chapel, which was built in 1881 for the daughter of a Congressman who married an Admiral who grew his wealth through inventing new types of guns. Then, there’s the oldest building of them all: the Old South Mountain Inn. 

It was originally built in 1732, and it is believed that George Washington marched past it in 1755 on his way to a battle near Fort Duquesne. As mentioned, any building on the National Road was bound to garner lots of business, and this was certainly the case for this inn, including many leaders of government (including presidents, Daniel Webster, and Henry Clay). The Civil War brought times of change where it became a headquarters, was captured, and then finally, it started to decline in popularity as the railroad industry boomed. In 1876, it was sold to Madeline Dahlgren (yes, that Dahlgren) and it became a personal residence, then in 1925 it became a tavern until 1971, when it became a restaurant. This building wore multiple hats over its long years, but was purchased by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in 2023 and will become part of the park service as its last vocation. 

A monument, a national road, a church, and an old inn/tavern/house/restaurant—quite a collection of historical landmarks to explore. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a trail that’s beautiful in any weather and has the popularity benefit of lots of parking and restrooms along the way. So, what are you waiting for? Visit this historical trail in Maryland and discover everything it has to offer!