Darnestown Heritage Park is located adjacent to the Darnestown Village Center. The 0.6-acre site includes a historic cemetery and provides an ideal spot to eat outdoors. The park has no dedicated parking so smaller gatherings are encouraged.
History: The Darne Family Cemetery
In the mid-1700s, Scottish and Irish fronteirspeople began settling the area that eventually became Darnestown. Many became farmers, and others, like tavern owner Ninean Beall, operated businesses. Large landowners, like Beall’s son-in-law William Darne, relied on enslaved laborers to work the fields. Some members of the Darne family were buried at the cemetery at this site. No markers remain, and research has yielded few answers as to who exactly is buried here. Recorded accounts suggest that 20 to 50 individuals found their final resting spot here.
Archaeological investigations confirmed the location of the cemetery, which is now marked by a set of large rocks in the grassy area of this small park. Several benches offer a shady place to rest and reflect. A fully-accessible paved path winds past interpretive signs offering a wealth of information about Darnestown history, including its role in the Civil War.