Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center

OPERATING HOURS

• Daylight Saving Time: daily, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Standard Time: Fridays through Mondays, 8 AM to 4 PM
• Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Times can always change, so for the latest schedule be sure to visit the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Prince William Forest Park.

AMENITIES

• Pay park entrance fees
• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a large variety of brochures about the park (all free)
• Small exhibit area
• Book and souvenir store
• Restrooms

EXHIBITS

Exhibits inside the Price William Forest Park Visitor Center

A small room inside the Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center is used as an exhibit area. Topics include the park’s origin as the Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area (RDA), a park built between 1935 and 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC built many of the nation’s parks, both state and national. The park was intended to provide outdoor recreation for inner city families and children from the Washington, D. C. area.

Civilian Conservation Corp exhibit inside the Price William Forest Park Visitor Center

Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area exhibit inside the Price William Forest Park Visitor Center

The other major topic covered in the exhibits is the park’s usage by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. This organization was formed to put all U. S. intelligence operations under a single roof during the war. The OSS took over Prince William Forest Park in 1942 and remained until the end of the war.

Office of Strategic Services exhibit inside the Price William Forest Park Visitor Center

Morris Code exhibit inside the Price William Forest Park Visitor Center

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Plan to spend no more than 15 to 30 minutes at the Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center.

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