With the federal government’s partial shutdown finally over, National Park Service employees are enthusiastically welcoming visitors back to some of the Bay watershed’s best parks.
Fort McHenry posted this sunrise photo marking the park’s reopening on Sunday.Assateague Island National Seashore, Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, and Fort McHenry National Monument & Shrine all reopened with their usual visitor services Sunday, more than a month after facilities were locked up tight.
In a Facebook post, Assateague Island wrote, “Woo-hoo! We are back at it!… Needless to say Assateague Island National Seashore’s employees are happy to be back at work, serving the American people and welcoming visitors to their national seashore!” The staff thanked police for keeping things in order while the national seashore was closed.
The Assateague Island Visitor Center in Maryland, Toms Cove Visitor Center in Virginia, and all park restrooms and campgrounds are back on their regular winter schedules.
Harpers Ferry also reopened its Visitor Center, shuttle bus, and Lower Town buildings on Sunday.
Fort McHenry, like the others, remained snow-covered and shuttered to visitors from December 22, 2018, through Sunday, January 27.
The “lapse in federal appropriations” that shut down some government services and furloughed employees was the longest in U.S. history.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
