Cabin Camp 2: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Prince William Forest Park

Jones, Angelina; Goodwin, Thomas

Cabin Camp 2, also known as Camp Mawavi, consists of approximately 48.39 acres located in the southwestern portion of Prince William Forest Park (PRWI), a National Park Service unit, in Prince William County, Virginia. The park is located 35 miles south of Washington, DC along Virginia’s fall line, an area which straddles the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of Virginia. Quantico Creek is a prominent water feature in the area and is a tributary to the Potomac River, which is located four miles from the eastern boundary of the park. The southern and western boundaries of the park are defined by Joplin Road (rt. 619), MCB-1, Breckenridge Reservoir Access Road, and Breckenridge Road. The northern boundary of the park is defined by Dumfries Road (rt. 234). Interstate 95 borders the park to the east. The geographic location along the fall line is responsible for the rolling topography of the region which is at times punctuated by deep ravines. Such topography historically provided natural property boundaries in the metes and bounds system used by Virginia. The majority of the landscape is blanketed by dense deciduous forests consisting primarily of white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), red maple (Acer rubrum), and beech trees (Fagus grandifolia). Some conifers can also be found, primarily Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) and eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana). Understory trees such as dogwood (Cornus florida) are also present at the edge of clearings. Significance Summary This Cultural Landscape Inventory identifies a period of significance of 1935-1959 for the Cabin Camp 2 cultural landscape. It also argues for a national level of significance for the cabin camp, recognizing its role in federal programs with a nationwide impact. This period of significance recognizes the significance of Cabin Camp 2 in the decades after its initial construction, continuing uninterrupted through several successive (and at times overlapping) events, including: The land acquisition, development, and construction of the camp as a model Recreational Demonstration Area (RDA) facility between 1935 and 1942, designed by the National Park Service and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The camp’s recurring use as seasonal facilities for children, including use as racially segregated recreational landscapes operated by partner organizations. The adaptation of the camp for military and Office of Strategic Services (OSS) use during and immediately after World War II. The alteration of the camp as part of the National Park Service’s Mission 66 program. The period of significance ends in 1959, when the last major changes to the Cabin Camp 2 cultural landscape concluded as part of the extended legacy of Mission 66. This period, and its associated events, is significant based on multiple National Register criteria and areas of significance, including: Criterion A (in the areas of Politics/Government; Entertainment/ Recreation; Social History; Military) and Criterion C (Architecture; Landscape Architecture). Analysis and Evaluation Summary and Condition Multiple landscape characteristics help to convey the historic character of the site, including natural systems and features, land use, topography, spatial organization, cluster arrangement, circulation, views and vistas, vegetation, buildings and structures, constructed water features, small‐scale features, and archeological sites. Overall, the Cabin Camp 2 cultural landscape retains integrity in location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. Although the landscape has undergone some minor changes since its historic period, the landscape retains most of the characteristics, physical and process driven features, and associations present during its period of significance from 1935 to 1959 and remains in fair condition.

Cabin Camp 2: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Prince William Forest Park

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