Worthington Farm (Clifton): Cultural Landscape Inventory, Monocacy National Battlefield, National Park Service
Commisso M. 2013. Worthington Farm (Clifton): Cultural Landscape Inventory, Monocacy National Battlefield, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 600204. NPS National Capital Regional Office. National Capital Regional Office/CLI Database
The Worthington Farm, also known as "Clifton," is a component landscape of Monocacy National Battlefield. It is located about three miles south of Frederick, Maryland, on the west side of interstate 270 and the south (east) side of the Monocacy River. The Worthington Farm is located immediately west of the Thomas farm, also known as "Araby." The northern and west boundaries are formed by the Monocacy River, with Brooks Hill forming the southern boundary. The Worthington Farm currently encompasses approximately 280 acres, and features a patchwork of rolling fields and forests that represent the broad patterns of the agricultural landscape that were present in the mid-nineteenth century. Built features are scarce on the property, with the Worthington House as the only remaining building that dates to the time of the Battle of Monocacy, although a few historic road traces cross the agricultural landscape. Besides these features, the landscape also includes remnant Osage oranges along fence lines and two old growth white oaks (Location Maps). Significance Summary: As part of the Monocacy National Battlefield, the Worthington Farm derive significance under National Register Criterion A in the areas of military history, social development, industrial and agricultural history; and Criterion C in the area of architecture. The period of significance begins in 1724, the date of initial patenting and settlement of lands encompassing the Worthington property, and extends through the important events of the Civil War era, before ending in 1864 with the Battle of Monocacy. (The period of significance for the entire battlefield extends to 1964 because that is when the final commemorative structure was built. This structure is outside the boundaries of the Worthington property. Analysis and Evaluation Summary and Condition: Although the Worthington Farm has lost features that existed during the Civil War, the landscape retains its historic rural agricultural character through the surviving circulation systems, field and forests patterns and main house. The cultural landscape within the Worthington Farm site no longer retains integrity of workmanship and design, but does retain integrity of location, setting, materials, feeling, and association.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Commisso, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 2013-07-30
- Publisher
- NPS National Capital Regional Office
- Units
- MONO , NCR
- Keywords
- Abolishment of Slavery, Battles In The North And South, CE1724-1864, Clifton, contributing, Creating Social Institutions and Movements, Expressing Cultural Values, Farming Communities, Monocacy National Battlefield, Shaping the Political System, Site, The Civil War, Ways of Life, Worthington Farm
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Human Use | Cultural Landscapes | Cultural Landscapes