Join us for a full-day adventure that combines local history with stunning river scenery on this tour along the Susquehanna River. We’ll start our morning with a sneak peek tour of the historic Mifflin Farm, newly added to the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program. The Mifflin family provided a refuge for freedom seekers as a key Underground Railroad station from 1800 to 1845, and helped them in crossing the Susquehanna River. The site recently opened to limited visitors, and we are excited to have received this special invitation to tour.
After our morning at Mifflin, we’ll drive to the Zimmerman Center for a self-guided tour of this mid-18th-century home. The center serves as the official headquarters for the Susquehanna National Heritage Center and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Exhibits focus on the Susquehannock who lived in this area at the time of Smith’s explorations of the Chesapeake Bay in 1608. Find more information here: https://www.nps.gov/cajo/zimmerman-center-for-heritage.htm.
For our lunch and afternoon portion, we’ll board the Chief Uncas, an electric-powered boat built in 1912 for beer tycoon Adolphus Busch. The boat was used by the Busch family to cruise Otsego Lake in New York, the headwaters of the Susquehanna, and it remains in operation along the river today, with over 100 years in service. During this 1.5-hour cruise, we’ll learn the importance of the Susquehanna to all who have lived here from 12,000 years ago to now. We may see the fish traps left in the river bottom by the Paleoindians and hear about the special landscape of Lake Clarke with its modern-day dams and the stories of influential people who built this area. And we’ll watch for birds and wildlife along the way. The Susquehanna National Heritage Area operates the Chief Uncas in tandem with the National Park Service.
- Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
- Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
- All passengers must be able to navigate the boat ramp and dock and board the vessel. This boat is not ADA handicap accessible and requires passengers to climb three steps with a handrail to reach the entrance and climb down a three-step ladder with handrails into the vessel to board. A crew member will be offering assistance. While the property is fully ADA accessible, the historic vessel is not, and SNHA is working to increase accessibility in the future.
- Dress according to the weather with layers of clothing. The boat is covered from the sun, however, only the front section is enclosed. It will be cooler on the river.
- Wear rubber-soled shoes for slippery surfaces. No heels, no flip-flops.
- Bring a lunch and drink to eat on the boat.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
- Bring your camera and accessories.
- Bring binoculars to see birds and wildlife along the way.
- One chaperone over 21 years of age is required for each child. Children over age 10 are welcome to attend. There is no discount ticket for children.
NEW – Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.