What You'll Do

Grab your hiking boots and your camera as you join author and historian Garrett Peck to explore the rich ruins of the Seneca Quarry, visiting such landmarks as the stonecutting mill, 50-foot quarry wall, and restored quarry master's house. As you soak up the stunning setting, learn about the significance of the rust-colored sandstone originating at the banks of the Potomac, which served as building material for D.C. structures like the Smithsonian Castle and McClellan Gate. While safely navigating the creeks and crumbling buildings of the quarry, Peck shares stories of the site's golden age, weaving tales of great floods and financial scandals that nearly destroyed presidents .

• See Where the Smithsonian Castle's Red Sandstone Came From
  Visit the site where workers once mined the sandstone that was used to construct some of D.C.'s most distinctive buildings

• Hear the Stories from a Historian
  Garrett Peck, author of Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry shares tales of the quarry's golden age and its influence on the area

• Explore the Quarry's Ruins
  Tours safely walk through the abandoned buildings and overgrown creeks of the quarry site, offering scenic vistas and natural beauty

Each event is capped at 25 participants; each event requires a minimum of 8 participants in order to take place.

Your Host

Garrett Peck
Author, Historian

Garret Peck, historian and author of books on prohibition and the Potomac River, has spent years learning about the nation's capital. His latest work, The Smithsonian Castle & The Seneca Quarry, investigates the history behind the quarry that gave D.C. its distinctive redstone architecture and played a key part in the economy and politics of the Reconstruction Era.

Where You'll Meet

Tours begin at the parking lot by Seneca Aqueduct, at the very end of Riley's Lock Road in Seneca, Maryland.