2024 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 14
Charles County Government Annual Report • 2024
RESILIENCY & SUSTAINABILITY
Federal Grant
Paves Way for
Heritage Center
at Mallows Bay
Charles County has received $5 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING to support pre-construction and design efforts for the future Mallows Bay Heritage
Center at the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary.
Investments into Mallows Bay are part of a $3.3 billion
investment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOA A) from the federal Bipar tisan
Inflation Act. Grant funds dispersed as part of federal
Inflation Reduction Act.
The Mallows Bay — Potomac River National Marine
Sanctuar y has a rich commercial fishing heritage and
historical connections to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
It is the final resting place of some 100 historic shipwrecks,
also known as the “Ghost Fleet,” wooden steamships constructed as part of the United States Emergency Fleet
Corporation during World War I. Mallows Bay is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places
and listed as a National Treasure by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
This new heritage center in Charles Count y will
make Mallows Bay a focal point for outdoor recreation
and tourism through increased accessibility, educational
opportunities and improved amenities for visitors, all of
which will impact our community economically. The future
heritage center would also invite visitors to learn about
its significant cultural impact, including the heritage of
the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and the Piscataway Indian
Nation. The traditional Piscataway tribal homelands
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include the land where the marine sanctuar y now sits
and is an essential part of the newly recognized Southern
Maryland National Heritage Area.
"This remarkable project highlights our county's unique
cultural and ecological treasures and directly supports the County Commissioners' goals of Resiliency &
Sustainabilit y as well as Economic Development," said
Deborah Hall, Acting County Administrator. "By preserving our rich histor y and fostering sustainable tourism,
this investment will strengthen our community, bolster
our economy, and ensure that Charles County remains a
vibrant and resilient destination for generations to come."
MALLOWS BAY IS A TREASURE that tells
the story of resilience, innovation, and
the bond between our community and the environment. This new heritage center will serve as a
beacon for education, exploration, and
economic opportunity, connecting visitors and
residents alike to the wonders of the Potomac River
and the stories it holds.
— Reuben B. Collins II, Esq.
Commissioner President
CharlesCountyMD.gov
