CULTURAL RESOURCES: Native peoples lived here before the arrival of Europeans and Africans, but our historical knowledge is limited to later times. Percy Howard Farm: From the 1890s to the 1930s Percy Howard and his family lived on a farm on the west side of what is now Scientists Cliffs Road. The two tobacco fields at the ACLT's main entrance mark the southern end of the farm. Howard's former residence and remaining outbuildings at- the farm's northern end (site 3) may be accessed from Scientists Cliffs Road or the Swamp Trail. Lemuel Wallace Farm: Most of the former proprietors of the ACLT land were white, but Lemuel Wallace was an African American farmer who owned about 100 acres from 1909 until the mid 1930s. His house (site 2) and a reconstructed corn crib stand a short distance northwest of the tobacco fields that his grandson Woodrow Wallace works today. The farmstead is on Wallace Lane, a connector between the Ridge Loop trails.

Tobacco has been grown on Calvert County's bayside farms since the 17th century. An 1847 map suggests that, by the middle of the 19th century, most level sections in the ACLT's holdings had been cleared for tobacco. Annie and Flippo Gravatt: In the 1930s the land on this map was consolidated by Annie Rathbun Gravatt and her husband George Flippo Gravatt, a Department of Agriculture plant pathologist. The ACLT purchased the land in 1986. Gravatt Stream and Gravatt Lane are named in honor of the couple.

Hance-Chesley Cemetery and House: A short lane accessed from Scientists Cliffs Road leads to a cemetery (site 4) containing, among others the graves of Benjamin Hance (1756-1812), his son Young Dorsey Hance (1791-1855), and Y.D.'s wife Elouisa Ann Chesley Hance (1799-1849). Presumably members of the Chesley or Hance families lived in the house near the cemetery, now a brush-filled ruin. Cemetery Lane may also be reached from the Swamp Trail.

Jett, Easter, Switzer, Matteson, and Flint: Jett Stream is named for the late Dr. Page Jett, a Calvert County physician who lived on a large estate at the mouth of Parkers Creek. The Steve Easter Trail is named for a former resident of Scientists' Cliffs who inspired in many an affection for the region's flora. The Switzers and Mattesons are families whose properties lie adjacent to the trails that bear their names. Oliver S. Flint, an original ACLT board member, and his wife Carol created the Hint Trail segment of the Stream Loop.

Old Bayside Road: Before the 1930s, Scientists Cliffs Road was called Old Bayside Road. Remnants can be seen along the roadside section of the Laurel Loop and by the Percy Howard Farm.

ACLT RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. All visitors as requested to please sign in at ACLT main trail entrance. Access to ACLT property is limited to: a) individuals or small groups (10 or fewer persons); and b) larger groups for educational field trips upon prior written permission from ACLT.

2. Property is closed from dusk (1/2 hour after sunset) to dawn (1/2 hour before sunrise) except for camping (see 3).

3. Camping is permitted only through the ACLT Camping Program; contact ACLT office for Camping Program details (written permission required).

4. Hunting is permitted only thru the ACLT Deer Harvest Program; contact ACLT office for Hunting Program details (written permission required).

5. No firearms, explosives, or flammables on property. No hunting, camping, or fires except as individually approved above (see 3 & 4).

6. No possession or consumption of alcohol or other drugs on property. No one under the influence of alcohol or other drugs permitted.

7. No trailbikes, snowmobiles, or other motorized vehicles allowed.

8. No motorized vehicles are permitted beyond designated parking areas with the exception of emergency vehicles and ACLT-sanctioned work crews.

9. No dumping or littering. No introduction of plant or animal specimens or species without written permission from ACLT.

10. No collecting or removal of anything, including firewood, except as authorized by ACLT in writing.

11. Dogs may not run loose; they must be on a leash at all times.

12. Stay away from wells, dumps, and structures, abandoned or not, unless specifically involved in an approved Land Management Committee project.

13. Please stay on trails and minimize noise.

14. Report violations to ACLT office (586-1570) or police (dial 911).

15. All persons visiting ACLT property do so at their own risk.

16. While visiting and after you leave ACLT property, be sure to take precautions that will protect you from harmful tick bites.

(Please do not park in front of entrance gates)

THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT LAND TRUST

(ACLT) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized for educational and scientific purposes to help preserve Calvert County's scenic, natural, historical, cultural, and silvicultural resources. As of 1995 the ACLT owns 790 acres in six separate tracts. Although all of the trust's land is open to the public, this map is limited to the pair of tracts lying along Scientists Cliffs Road. Visitors are encouraged to support the work of the trust by becoming members. Annual dues are $35; sustaining/life-time membership is $2500. Please call or write for more information: 410-586-1570. American Chestnut Land Trust, Inc., P.O. Box 204, Port Republic, MD 20676

TRAILS:

The STREAM LOOP trails are mostly low-lying and in sensitive areas (not appropriate for bicycles or horses). The Flint Trail crosses a field and goes along a ridge before bearing left downhill to follow the Jett Stream. Use caution where the path is directly on the stream's edge. Although for most of its length the Swamp Trail is an old road through handsome hardwoods, it also features a 900' boardwalk around a swamp and over streams.

The RIDGE LOOP trails are mostly dry and on level ground. The Bloodroot Trail is a good place to look for spring wildflowers. Gravatt Lane just northeast of Gravatt Stream Crossing has a steep climb for about 400'. A large stand of bamboo and working privy are other features of this trail.

An INTRODUCTORY LOOP, the shortest possible, consists of sections of the Bloodroot Trail and Gravatt Lane linked by Wallace Lane, which passes the Wallace homesite (site 2).

The LAUREL LOOP crosses a field, skirts the arboretum, and goes through woods rich in mountain laurel before coming out on Scientists Cliffs Road. The last part of this trail is on private property. Please respect the owners' right to privacy as you bear left on their driveway. (You can stay on ACLT land by turning sharply left onto the boundary trail, which traverses a steep ravine.) After about 300' on the road turn left at the small parking lot (P2) and follow a winding footpath to come back out on the road just southwest of the main entrance.

The EAST LOOP starts just south of the East View Farm driveway and follows the Old Range Trail to the Turkey Trail, which eventually takes a sharp right onto the Steve Easter Trail after a steep descent. After turning left at a stream-crossing culvert, the loop goes uphill and parallels the BGE power lines on the Switzer Trail. Turn right at the Matteson Trail and follow it to the holly grove adjacent to your starting point.

NATURAL RESOURCES: Ten million years ago the Miocene seas withdrew from Southern Maryland leaving marine strata up to 100' above sea level in the land trust area. Later, streams spread silt, sand, and gravel over the strata, forming the upland deposits. Soils above 100' are dry, sandy, and acid and support pine, oak, and mountain laurel. Streams have eroded the land, leaving terraces such as the tobacco fields. Soils in the stream valleys are moist and rich in organic debris and support sycamore, spicebush, pawpaw, sweetgum, and black walnut.

As much of the land was farmed in the last century, the forest is primarily second growth hardwoods with trees ranging in age from 10 to 100 years. Some former fields are now stands of pole-sized timber, while the pines which first grew on others are giving way to hardwoods. Older trees are found along field edges and in ravines, such as the Bicentennial Oaks, (site 7), between the Flint and Bloodroot Trails. One mature American chestnut (site 1), although blighted, survives on a path between the Swamp Trail and Gravatt Lane. The forest was badly damaged by the February 1994 ice storms. It will take years for the canopy to regenerate completely. ACLT land is a Calvert County Agricultural Preservation District as a managed forest. The Hybrid American Chestnut Arboretum (site 5) is planted on the site of a 1989 timber harvest.

Many wildflowers brighten the ACLT property. Bloodroot, Toothwort, and Spring Beauty are harbingers of spring, soon followed by myriad May Apples. Lizard's Tail and Jewelweed are among the showy summer wetland plants. Field flowers come into their own by mid-summer, with gaudy Butterfly Weed highlighting Black-eyed Susan and Queen Anne's Lace, and the show continues into fall with numerous goldenrods and asters. Some rare wildflowers have been recorded on ACLT property, such as Yellow Passionflower, Large-seeded Forget-me-not, and Sweet Pinesap. Among non-flowering plants are fourteen species of fern, several fern allies, and many mushrooms, including morels.

Over 100 species of birds have been seen in the varied habitats of the ACLT. Upland species are represented by Wild Turkeys, while the occasional heron or duck may be flushed from the damp lowlands. Woodpeckers, including the Pileated, are common. Forest interior dwelling birds, including tanagers, thrushes, and many species of warblers and vireos nest in the hardwoods. Hawks, vultures, Ospreys, and the occasional Bald Eagle soar over the fields, and waterfowl from nearby Chesapeake Bay may be seen or heard passing overhead. Mammals include deer, gray and red fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, woodchuck, squirrel, and eastern cottontail. Reptiles and amphibians are represented most visibly by box turtles. Frogs are vocal in the swamp in spring, and snakes are present but seldom seen.



	CULTURAL RESOURCES: Native peoples lived here before the arrival of Europeans and Africans, but our historical knowledge is limited to later times. Percy Howard Farm: From the 1890s to the 1930s Percy Howard and his family lived on a farm on the west side of what is now Scientists Cliffs Road. The two tobacco fields at the ACLT's main entrance mark the southern end of the farm. Howard's former residence and remaining outbuildings at- the farm's northern end (site 3) may be accessed from Scientists Cliffs Road or the Swamp Trail. Lemuel Wallace Farm: Most of the former proprietors of the ACLT land were white, but Lemuel Wallace was an African American farmer who owned about 100 acres from 1909 until the mid 1930s. His house (site 2) and a reconstructed corn crib stand a short distance northwest of the tobacco fields that his grandson Woodrow Wallace works today. The farmstead is on Wallace Lane, a connector between the Ridge Loop trails. Tobacco has been grown on Calvert County's bayside farms since the 17th century. An 1847 map suggests that, by the middle of the 19th century, most level sections in the ACLT's holdings had been cleared for tobacco. Annie and Flippo Gravatt: In the 1930s the land on this map was consolidated by Annie Rathbun Gravatt and her husband George Flippo Gravatt, a Department of Agriculture plant pathologist. The ACLT purchased the land in 1986. Gravatt Stream and Gravatt Lane are named in honor of the couple. Hance-Chesley Cemetery and House: A short lane accessed from Scientists Cliffs Road leads to a cemetery (site 4) containing, among others the graves of Benjamin Hance (1756-1812), his son Young Dorsey Hance (1791-1855), and Y.D.'s wife Elouisa Ann Chesley Hance (1799-1849). Presumably members of the Chesley or Hance families lived in the house near the cemetery, now a brush-filled ruin. Cemetery Lane may also be reached from the Swamp Trail. Jett, Easter, Switzer, Matteson, and Flint: Jett Stream is named for the late Dr. Page Jett, a Calvert County physician who lived on a large estate at the mouth of Parkers Creek. The Steve Easter Trail is named for a former resident of Scientists' Cliffs who inspired in many an affection for the region's flora. The Switzers and Mattesons are families whose properties lie adjacent to the trails that bear their names. Oliver S. Flint, an original ACLT board member, and his wife Carol created the Hint Trail segment of the Stream Loop. Old Bayside Road: Before the 1930s, Scientists Cliffs Road was called Old Bayside Road. Remnants can be seen along the roadside section of the Laurel Loop and by the Percy Howard Farm.	ACLT RULES AND REGULATIONS 1. All visitors as requested to please sign in at ACLT main trail entrance. Access to ACLT property is limited to: a) individuals or small groups (10 or fewer persons); and b) larger groups for educational field trips upon prior written permission from ACLT. 2. Property is closed from dusk (1/2 hour after sunset) to dawn (1/2 hour before sunrise) except for camping (see 3). 3. Camping is permitted only through the ACLT Camping Program; contact ACLT office for Camping Program details (written permission required). 4. Hunting is permitted only thru the ACLT Deer Harvest Program; contact ACLT office for Hunting Program details (written permission required). 5. No firearms, explosives, or flammables on property. No hunting, camping, or fires except as individually approved above (see 3 & 4). 6. No possession or consumption of alcohol or other drugs on property. No one under the influence of alcohol or other drugs permitted. 7. No trailbikes, snowmobiles, or other motorized vehicles allowed. 8. No motorized vehicles are permitted beyond designated parking areas with the exception of emergency vehicles and ACLT-sanctioned work crews. 9. No dumping or littering. No introduction of plant or animal specimens or species without written permission from ACLT. 10. No collecting or removal of anything, including firewood, except as authorized by ACLT in writing. 11. Dogs may not run loose; they must be on a leash at all times. 12. Stay away from wells, dumps, and structures, abandoned or not, unless specifically involved in an approved Land Management Committee project. 13. Please stay on trails and minimize noise. 14. Report violations to ACLT office (586-1570) or police (dial 911). 15. All persons visiting ACLT property do so at their own risk. 16. While visiting and after you leave ACLT property, be sure to take precautions that will protect you from harmful tick bites. (Please do not park in front of entrance gates)



	THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT LAND TRUST (ACLT) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized for educational and scientific purposes to help preserve Calvert County's scenic, natural, historical, cultural, and silvicultural resources. As of 1995 the ACLT owns 790 acres in six separate tracts. Although all of the trust's land is open to the public, this map is limited to the pair of tracts lying along Scientists Cliffs Road. Visitors are encouraged to support the work of the trust by becoming members. Annual dues are $35; sustaining/life-time membership is $2500. Please call or write for more information: 410-586-1570. American Chestnut Land Trust, Inc., P.O. Box 204, Port Republic, MD 20676 TRAILS: The STREAM LOOP trails are mostly low-lying and in sensitive areas (not appropriate for bicycles or horses). The Flint Trail crosses a field and goes along a ridge before bearing left downhill to follow the Jett Stream. Use caution where the path is directly on the stream's edge. Although for most of its length the Swamp Trail is an old road through handsome hardwoods, it also features a 900' boardwalk around a swamp and over streams. The RIDGE LOOP trails are mostly dry and on level ground. The Bloodroot Trail is a good place to look for spring wildflowers. Gravatt Lane just northeast of Gravatt Stream Crossing has a steep climb for about 400'. A large stand of bamboo and working privy are other features of this trail. An INTRODUCTORY LOOP, the shortest possible, consists of sections of the Bloodroot Trail and Gravatt Lane linked by Wallace Lane, which passes the Wallace homesite (site 2). The LAUREL LOOP crosses a field, skirts the arboretum, and goes through woods rich in mountain laurel before coming out on Scientists Cliffs Road. The last part of this trail is on private property. Please respect the owners' right to privacy as you bear left on their driveway. (You can stay on ACLT land by turning sharply left onto the boundary trail, which traverses a steep ravine.) After about 300' on the road turn left at the small parking lot (P2) and follow a winding footpath to come back out on the road just southwest of the main entrance. The EAST LOOP starts just south of the East View Farm driveway and follows the Old Range Trail to the Turkey Trail, which eventually takes a sharp right onto the Steve Easter Trail after a steep descent. After turning left at a stream-crossing culvert, the loop goes uphill and parallels the BGE power lines on the Switzer Trail. Turn right at the Matteson Trail and follow it to the holly grove adjacent to your starting point.	NATURAL RESOURCES: Ten million years ago the Miocene seas withdrew from Southern Maryland leaving marine strata up to 100' above sea level in the land trust area. Later, streams spread silt, sand, and gravel over the strata, forming the upland deposits. Soils above 100' are dry, sandy, and acid and support pine, oak, and mountain laurel. Streams have eroded the land, leaving terraces such as the tobacco fields. Soils in the stream valleys are moist and rich in organic debris and support sycamore, spicebush, pawpaw, sweetgum, and black walnut. As much of the land was farmed in the last century, the forest is primarily second growth hardwoods with trees ranging in age from 10 to 100 years. Some former fields are now stands of pole-sized timber, while the pines which first grew on others are giving way to hardwoods. Older trees are found along field edges and in ravines, such as the Bicentennial Oaks, (site 7), between the Flint and Bloodroot Trails. One mature American chestnut (site 1), although blighted, survives on a path between the Swamp Trail and Gravatt Lane. The forest was badly damaged by the February 1994 ice storms. It will take years for the canopy to regenerate completely. ACLT land is a Calvert County Agricultural Preservation District as a managed forest. The Hybrid American Chestnut Arboretum (site 5) is planted on the site of a 1989 timber harvest. Many wildflowers brighten the ACLT property. Bloodroot, Toothwort, and Spring Beauty are harbingers of spring, soon followed by myriad May Apples. Lizard's Tail and Jewelweed are among the showy summer wetland plants. Field flowers come into their own by mid-summer, with gaudy Butterfly Weed highlighting Black-eyed Susan and Queen Anne's Lace, and the show continues into fall with numerous goldenrods and asters. Some rare wildflowers have been recorded on ACLT property, such as Yellow Passionflower, Large-seeded Forget-me-not, and Sweet Pinesap. Among non-flowering plants are fourteen species of fern, several fern allies, and many mushrooms, including morels. Over 100 species of birds have been seen in the varied habitats of the ACLT. Upland species are represented by Wild Turkeys, while the occasional heron or duck may be flushed from the damp lowlands. Woodpeckers, including the Pileated, are common. Forest interior dwelling birds, including tanagers, thrushes, and many species of warblers and vireos nest in the hardwoods. Hawks, vultures, Ospreys, and the occasional Bald Eagle soar over the fields, and waterfowl from nearby Chesapeake Bay may be seen or heard passing overhead. Mammals include deer, gray and red fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, woodchuck, squirrel, and eastern cottontail. Reptiles and amphibians are represented most visibly by box turtles. Frogs are vocal in the swamp in spring, and snakes are present but seldom seen.