Editing Darnestown, Maryland (section)

==Culture==
===Arts===
{{multiple image
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| footer  = Darnestown Heritage Park tells the story of the community using a series of historical markers| footer_align = center<!-- left/right/center -->
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| image1    = Darnestown Heritage Park.jpg
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<!--[[Image:Black Rock Mill sign.jpg|thumb|right|Inside Black Rock Mill in 2020 at Seneca Creek State Park|alt=educational sign about a mill]]-->
Close to the intersection of Darnestown Road and Seneca Road is the 0.6-acre (0.24{{nbsp}}ha) Darnestown Heritage Park, which is a small county park that functions as an outdoor museum using a series of historical markers that tell the history of Darnestown.<ref name="DHpark">{{cite web
|title=Darnestown Heritage Park
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/darnestown-heritage-park/
|access-date=2020-09-01}}</ref> Black Rock Mill is a partially restored mill in Seneca Creek State Park that exhibits the workings of a mill from the 19th century.<ref name="BRM24-6">{{cite web
|title=Addendum Black Rock Mill
|website= Maryland Historical Trust
|url=https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/Montgomery/M;%2024-6.pdf
|access-date=2020-09-01}}</ref> Riley's Lock and lock house are part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and a history program run by local [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scouts]] includes tours of the lock house during spring and fall afternoons.<ref name="WPostGirlScouts">{{cite news
|title=Reliving the Lockhouse Life
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/02/15/reliving-the-lockhouse-life/799b42a1-e59d-4c06-a086-a44aa9d682c5/
|access-date=2020-08-07
|newspaper=Washington Post
|date=1985-02-15
|last1=Oman
|first1=Anne H.}}</ref><ref name="TrustGS">{{cite web
|title=Riley's Lockhouse (Girl Scouts)
|website= C&O Canal Trust
|url=https://www.canaltrust.org/discoverypoi/rileys-lockhouse/
|access-date=2020-08-07}}</ref>

Darnestown does not have art centers of its own, but some museums can be found in adjacent communities. The [[Beall–Dawson House]], built circa 1815, contains exhibits on life in 19th century Rockville.<ref name="BeallDawson">{{cite web
|title=Montgomery History - Beall-Dawson House
|website=Montgomery County Historical Society
|url=https://montgomeryhistory.org/beall-dawson-house/
|access-date=2020-05-31
|archive-date=September 18, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918195156/http://montgomeryhistory.org/beall-dawson-house/
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The [[Gaithersburg station#Gaithersburg Community Museum|Gaithersburg Community Museum]] is located in an old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad complex in Olde Town Gaithersburg, and focuses on educating children about Gaithersburg history.<ref name="NPGaithersburgBOmuseum">{{cite web
|title=Gaithersburg Community Museum
|website= Gaithersburg, Maryland government
|url=https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/about-us/city-facilities/gaithersburg-community-museum
|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> [[Glenstone]] Modern Art Museum is east of Darnestown near the intersection of Travilah Road and Glen Road, and has indoor and outdoor exhibits.<!--<ref name="NPGlenstone">{{cite web
|title=Glenstone
|website= Glenstone
|url=https://www.glenstone.org/
|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>--><ref name="WPostGlenstone">{{cite news
|title=Going to Glenstone? Here's what you need to know about D.C.'s new must-see art museum 
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/museums/going-to-glenstone-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-dcs-new-must-see-art-museum/2018/10/02/92a29468-c00f-11e8-9005-5104e9616c21_story.html
|access-date=2020-04-05
|newspaper=Washington Post
|date=2018-10-03
|last1=Ramanathan
|first1=Lavanya
|last2=Hahn
|first2=Fritz
}}</ref> The [[Strathmore (Maryland)|Strathmore Music and Arts Center]] in North Bethesda has a concert hall and art exhibits.<ref name="Strathmore">{{cite news
|title=Strathmore A High Note For County
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2005/02/06/strathmore-a-high-note-for-county/32d82501-6f26-4772-b877-c555f13a22de/
|access-date=2020-05-22
|newspaper=Washington Post
|date=2005-02-06
|last1=Mir
|first1=A.
|last2=Spivack
|first2=Matthew
|last3=Mosk
|first3=A.}}</ref>

===Parks and recreation===
[[Image:Seneca Ridge Trail sign.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|Seneca Creek State Park near Black Rock Mill|alt=sign for trail and state park]]
Seneca Creek State Park is an irregular-shaped park of {{convert|6300|acre}} that follows Seneca Creek for {{convert|14|mile}} from beyond Clopper Lake (northern part of Darnestown CDP) to the Potomac River (southern part of Darnestown CDP). The park has {{convert|50|mile}} of trails for hiking, horseback riding and biking.<ref name="MDSenecaCreekSP">{{cite web
|title=Seneca Creek State Park
|website= Maryland Department of Natural Resources
|publisher=Maryland government
|url=https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/seneca.aspx
|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref><ref name="MHTSenecaCreekSP">{{cite web
|title=Capsule Summary - Seneca Creek State Park
|website= Maryland Historical Trust
|publisher=Maryland Government
|url=https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/Montgomery/M;%2019-38.pdf
|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref> Riley's Lock and Violette's Lock are two canal locks in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park that are within the Darnestown CDP, and the Pennyfield Lock is nearby.<ref name="COpark">{{cite web
|title=Chesapeake & Ohio Canal - National Historical Park
|website= National Park Service
|publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
|url=https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm
|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref><ref name="CORiley">{{cite web
|title=Riley's Lock & Seneca
|website= C&O Canal Trust
|url=https://www.canaltrust.org/discoveryarea/rileys-lock-seneca/
|access-date=2020-09-02}}</ref><ref name="COViolette">{{cite web
|title=Lock 23 (Violettes Lock) & Dam No. 2
|website= C&O Canal Trust
|url=https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/lock-23-violettes-lock-dam-no-2/
|access-date=2020-09-02}}</ref> These locks are used by kayakers, bikers, and hikers, and are also good places to observe wildlife.<ref name="CObirders">{{cite web
|title=C&O Canal – Pennyfield, Violette's & Riley's Locks
|website= The Maryland Ornithological Society
|url=https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/co-canal-pennyfield-violettes-rileys-locks/
|access-date=2020-09-02}}</ref> The 40–acre (16&nbsp;ha) [[Dierssen Wildlife Management Area|Dierssen Waterfowl Sanctuary]] is located at towpath marker 20.0 between Violette's Lock and the Pennyfield Lock.<ref name="TrustDierssen">{{cite web
|title=Dierssen Waterfowl Sanctuary
|website= C&O Canal Trust
|url=https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/dierssen-waterfowl-sanctuary/
|access-date=2020-08-07}}</ref>

The Darnestown CDP has six county parks and an undeveloped conservation area. The Berryville Road Neighborhood Conservation Area is 3.83 acres of undeveloped woodland located between Seneca Road and Seneca Creek.<ref name="MCBerryville">{{cite web
|title=Berryville Road Neighborhood Conservation Area
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://mcatlas.org/parks/?find=C45
|access-date=2021-07-08}}</ref> Darnestown Heritage Park and Darnestown Local Park are located in the Darnestown village. The local park is {{convert|10|acre}} in size, and has a playground, softball field, small multi-use field, and two tennis courts.<ref name="MCDarnestownLocal">{{cite web
|title=Darnestown Local Park
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/darnestown-local-park/
|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> More county parks are located close to the Potomac River, including the Seneca Landing Special Park that has a boat landing near Riley's Lock.<ref name="MCSenecaLandingSP">{{cite web
|title=Seneca Landing Special Park
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/seneca-landing-special-park/
|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> The 630-acre (250 ha) Blockhouse Point Conservation Park, which has views of the Potomac River and ruins from the American Civil War, is also located along the Potomac River and C&O Canal.<ref name="MCBlockhouse">{{cite web
|title=Blockhouse Point Conservation Park & Trails
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/blockhouse-point-conservation-park-trails/
|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref> The Callithea Farm Special Park is a 91-acre (37{{nbsp}}ha) horse farm.<ref name="MCCallithea">{{cite web
|title=Callithea Farm Special Park
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/callithea-farm-special-park/
|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> A sixth park, Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park, is {{convert|876|acres}} that follow the Muddy Branch and contains the Muddy Branch Greenway Trail.<ref name="MBParkMap">{{cite web
|title=Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/muddy-branch-stream-valley-park/
|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

The Montgomery County Park System has over {{convert|200|mi}} of hiking trails.<ref name="MontParksTrails">{{cite web
|title=Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks - Park Trails
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/activities/park-trails/
|access-date=2020-03-17}}</ref> Among those trails is the [[Muddy Branch Greenway Trail]], which passes North Potomac's Potomac Horse Center on a 9-mile (14&nbsp;km) route between Darnestown Road and Blockhouse Point Conservation Park near the Potomac River.<ref name="MBGreenway">{{cite web
|title=Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks - Muddy Branch Greenway Trail
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/muddy-branch-stream-valley-park/muddy-branch-greenway-trail/
|access-date=2020-03-17}}</ref> The Potomac Horse Center, located adjacent to the Darnestown CDP, is a special county park that offers training for horses and riders.<ref name="MPHorseCenter">{{cite web
|title=Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks - Potomac Horse Center Special Park
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/potomac-horse-center-special-park/
|access-date=2020-09-05}}</ref> Construction of the Powerline Trail (a.k.a. Pepco Trail) began in 2018, and this trail will connect Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park with the South Germantown Recreation Park, which is the home of the [[Maryland SoccerPlex]].<ref name="BethesdaPepco">{{cite news
|title=Officials Break Ground on Trail Between North Potomac and Germantown
|work=Bethesda Magazine
|url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/news/officials-break-ground-on-nature-trail-between-north-potomac-and-germantown/
|date=2018-01-25
|access-date=2020-03-20
|last1=Zimmermann
|first1=Joe}}</ref><ref name="MCPowerlineTrail">{{cite web
|title=Powerline Trail
|website= Montgomery County, Maryland - Montgomery Parks
|publisher=Montgomery County, Maryland
|url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/pepco-trail/
|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref> The Maryland SoccerPlex is located less than {{convert|5|mi|km}} from the Darnestown village and has indoor and outdoor facilities for soccer and other activities.<ref name="Soccerplex">{{cite web
|title=Maryland SoccerPlex & Adventist Healthcare Fieldhouse
|website= Maryland Soccer Foundation, Inc.
|publisher=Maryland Soccer Foundation, Inc.
|url=https://www.mdsoccerplex.org/
|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>