- Source: Machicomico State Park
Machicomoco State Park is a state park in Gloucester County, Virginia along the York River. The park shares the stories of indigenous peoples like those of the Powhatan Confederacy. It encompasses the nearby Catlett Islands and is administrated under the same banner as Middle Peninsula State Park. The name "Machicomoco" comes from an Algonquin language word meaning "special meaning place." It lies near Werewocomoco, a village was the headquarters of Chief Powhatan.
History
The area was likely used by indigenous people dating back to at least 2000 BC, according to archaeological evidence found at shell middens.
The park's land was owned by the Catlett family whose house, Timberneck, still stands on the property. The property was sold in 2007 to a land developer, who constructed roads, a bike trail, and a gate house before the Great Recession halted initial plans.
When the land reached market again in 2017, the non-profit Conservation Fund bought the land, allowing the state time to construct plans. Dominion Energy was responsible for part of the funding. The architecture firm Nelson Byrd Woltz designed the facilities for the park. Though it was supposed to open in 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the dedication was moved back to April 2021.
See also
Rosewell (plantation)
References
External links
Hungry Mother Official Site
Hemlock Haven Official Site