Rock Creek Park Celebrates National Poetry Month with Special Programs

Contact: NCR Communications

Contact: ROCR Information, 771-215-6954

WASHINGTON- Rock Creek Park has significant ties to the history of poetry. From a memorial to Francis Scott Key, whose poem would become the Star-Spangled Banner, to the cabin of American poet Joaquin Miller, the park is a powerful place to connect with the written word.

In April 2026, as National Poetry Month celebrates its 30th anniversary, Rock Creek Park will host a series of programs and workshops about poetry. Join us to learn about Americans who created poetry, influenced the nation with their writings and continue to inspire future poets, authors and writers.

Calendar of Programs:

• Sunday, April 5, 2-4 p.m. The Star-Spangled Banner. After witnessing the valiant defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812, attorney Francis Scott Key penned the poem, "The Defense of Fort McHenry." This celebration of our national flag was combined with music to become "The Star-Spangled Banner," which became our official national anthem in 1931. Visit the Francis Scott Key Memorial in Georgetown to learn more about the battle, the poem, and the process of its adoption as we celebrate 250 years of our nation's history.
  

• Saturday, April 11, 2-4 p.m. Plein Air Poetry Workshop. Nature has inspired poets and poetry throughout literary history. Flex your creative muscle and enjoy springtime at Dumbarton Oaks Park. We will look at odes and sonnets inspired by nature and how it is reflected in verse.

• Sunday, April 12, 2-4 p.m. Poetry and the American Civil War. Poetry provided many different outlets for people during the American Civil War. From processing loss and the trauma of battle to expressing fervent patriotic feelings, poets captured the emotion of the time in verse. Visit Fort Stevens to learn how American poets captured this challenging time.
  

• Saturday, April 18, 2-4 p.m. Haiku and Our Natural World. Join author and poet Maggie Dewane at Picnic Grove #6, near the Joaquin Miller Cabin, for a nature-inspired poetry workshop and reading. She will discuss the benefits of nature journaling and guide participants in using haiku poetry as a tool of nature-based creative expression.
  

• Sunday, April 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Junior Poets. Visit the Nature Center to celebrate National Poetry Month by reading fun examples of children's poetry and then writing your own. Draw inspiration from our park's natural beauty or the silliness of your own mind and life and turn it into art of your own.
  

• Saturday, April 25, 2-4 p.m. Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" and Its Lasting Legacy. Lebanese-American Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" is a hugely popular work of poetry. Translated into over 100 languages, this work retains its popularity over a century after its publication in 1923. Visit the Kahlil Gibran Memorial to learn about the poet and his work.

More information about these programs is available on Rock Creek Park's calendar.

nps.gov

About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America's most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.

About Rock Creek Park. Rock Creek Park, one of the oldest urban parks in the nation, offers a vital green space for Washingtonians and visitors. The park protects natural resources and provides recreation, transportation, and cultural heritage experiences in the heart of the nation's capital.