Thurmont, Maryland – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has accepted a significant land donation that incorporates a historic African American cemetery into Cunningham Falls State Park, ensuring long-term conservation and public access to this important site in Frederick County.
The two-acre parcel includes the final resting place of enslaved, skilled workers from the historic Catoctin Furnace. The Maryland Park Service now assumes stewardship of the property, integrating it fully into the state park system. This addition allows visitors to appreciate the complete narrative of the site’s industrial and human history.
To mark Black History Month, the Park Service organized a commemorative event on February 28 at the historic Harriet Chapel in Thurmont—a church known for never enforcing segregation. Guests, including descendants of those interred, gathered to honor the donation from the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society and reflect on the lives of the enslaved individuals buried there.
“The transfer of this land to the Maryland Park Service is more than a procedural step; it is a declaration,” stated Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. “It is a promise that the State of Maryland will protect this ground with dignity and ensure that these stories are celebrated and shared with honesty. As we finish celebrating Black History Month and turn toward celebrations of America’s 250th Anniversary, this important place will serve forever as a reminder that African American heritage is foundational to Maryland and American history.”
Catoctin Furnace, established in 1776 by Thomas Johnson—a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Maryland’s first elected governor—along with his brothers, played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. The furnace supplied iron for George Washington’s army, including cannonballs used in the final battle at Yorktown, Virginia. It also crafted household goods like plates and wood-burning stoves that supported Colonial life. The furnace ruins are already preserved within Cunningham Falls State Park, and the cemetery’s inclusion completes the story of the laborers who powered its operations.
“We gather to honor the individuals whose lives shaped Catoctin Furnace—skilled ironworkers, laborers, mothers, fathers, and children; people whose contributions to Maryland were immense, even when history failed to record their names,” said Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw. “Their lives mattered. Their dignity endures. And their story deserves to be told honestly, fully, and permanently.”
Crenshaw expressed gratitude to the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society for their efforts in uncovering, documenting, and preserving the cemetery. Historian and archaeologist Elizabeth Comer, president of the society, highlighted a 1979 excavation that identified 35 graves—estimated to represent one-third of the total burials. The society also manages the nearby Museum of the Ironworker.
In 2014, the Historical Society initiated a project to raise awareness about African Americans’ vital role in the iron industry at Catoctin Furnace and across the United States. After a seven-year fundraising campaign, they acquired the 1.921-acre cemetery parcel from private ownership in May 2025 and subsequently deeded it to the Park Service.
“How fitting is it that on this, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we can fully commemorate the lives of these founders of Maryland who lived, worked, and died at Catoctin,” remarked Comer.
The Historical Society plans to maintain close collaboration with DNR. The affiliated Catoctin Furnace Friends Group Inc. is fundraising to support a conservation and preservation management plan, as well as a ground-penetrating radar survey. These efforts will facilitate a planned trail extension to the cemetery, enhancing outdoor access and educational opportunities within the park.
This development underscores Maryland’s commitment to historic preservation within its state parks, blending cultural heritage with natural resource management. By safeguarding this site, the DNR ensures that future generations can explore the intertwined stories of industry, labor, and resilience amid the scenic landscapes of Cunningham Falls State Park.
For more information, visit Maryland Department of Natural Resources.