Top Landmarks in College Park

College Park, Maryland sits at an interesting crossroads: it's a university city of roughly 34,000 residents anchored by the flagship campus of the University of Maryland, yet it also holds landmarks that draw visitors with no connection to the school whatsoever. The world's oldest continuously operating airport is here. So is one of the country's most significant federal archives. And the campus itself offers a walkable collection of historic buildings, public art, and open green space that many people only discover if someone points them in the right direction.

This guide covers the landmarks that genuinely define College Park — where each one is, what makes it worth your time, and how to combine them into a coherent visit. For a broader overview of the city, the College Park Travel Guide: Things to Do, Landmarks, Food, and Itineraries is a good starting point.

College Park Airport

Few cities can claim a place in aviation's earliest chapter, but College Park, MD is one of them. The College Park Airport opened in 1909 and is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. That's not a promotional tagline — it's what aviation historians and federal preservation records reflect.

Orville Wright used this field in 1909 to train U.S. Army Signal Corps officers, and the airport stayed active through two world wars and the dramatic expansion of commercial aviation that followed. Today it continues to function as a general aviation field, and small aircraft still take off and land here regularly. Standing on ground with this kind of documented history behind it, watching a Cessna roll down the same strip where early military pilots trained, is a genuinely striking experience for anyone with even a passing interest in flight.

The airport sits northeast of the University of Maryland campus, off Corporal Frank Scott Drive along the Paint Branch stream corridor. A car is the most straightforward way to get there, though the surrounding trail network also makes it reachable by bicycle from campus.

College Park Aviation Museum

Directly adjacent to the airport, the College Park Aviation Museum focuses on the history of early flight and the specific role this airfield played in it. The museum holds a collection of aircraft replicas, artifacts, and archival materials connected to the development of aviation in the region and across the country. Exhibits trace how aviation technology evolved in those early decades and explain why this particular site became significant enough to earn historic designation.

The museum and the airport together tell a story that's hard to find anywhere else in the country. Plan to visit both on the same trip — they're literally next to each other, and each gives the other more context. Check the museum's official website for current hours and admission information before you go, as those details can change.

National Archives at College Park (Archives II)

On the northwest side of College Park, MD, along Adelphi Road, stands one of the most important repositories of federal records in the country. The National Archives at College Park — commonly called Archives II to distinguish it from the original building in Washington, D.C. — holds an enormous collection of textual records, photographs, maps, motion pictures, and other materials generated by agencies of the federal government over generations.

Researchers travel from across the country and abroad to access this facility. Military service records, declassified intelligence documents, historical photographs, cartographic records, and federal agency files are all represented here. If you have a family connection to U.S. military service or want to dig into federal history, this facility may hold records directly relevant to your research. Public research rooms are available, but the facility operates on specific schedules and access procedures that you should confirm on the National Archives' official website before planning a visit.

Even for visitors without a specific research purpose, the scale and significance of what is stored here gives the place a distinct gravity. It's not a museum with exhibits designed for casual browsing, but for the right visitor it's one of the more remarkable institutions in the entire Washington metropolitan area.

University of Maryland Campus

The University of Maryland's main campus in College Park, MD is large enough that you could spend several hours walking it and still feel like you've only seen part of it. For visitors focused on landmarks, a few specific spots anchor the experience and can be covered in a single loop.

McKeldin Mall

McKeldin Mall is the central green corridor of the campus — a long, open stretch of lawn flanked by academic buildings and mature trees. It functions as the heart of campus life during the academic year, and it's used for everything from casual study sessions to large outdoor gatherings. The mall takes its name from McKeldin Library, the main research library that anchors one end of the space. Walking the length of the mall gives you a clear sense of the campus's scale and its architectural mix of older brick buildings alongside more modern additions.

The Testudo Statue

At the base of McKeldin Library stands Testudo, a bronze statue of the diamondback terrapin that serves as the university's mascot. It's probably the single most photographed object on campus, and for good reason — the statue has real cultural weight here. Students have a long tradition of rubbing Testudo's nose for luck before exams, a practice visible in the worn finish of the bronze right at that spot. For anyone visiting from outside the university community, Testudo is an easy focal point and a tangible piece of campus tradition.

Memorial Chapel

Toward the center of campus, Memorial Chapel is among the most architecturally recognizable buildings at the University of Maryland. The chapel's white exterior and prominent dome make it visible from several points across the mall. It has served the campus community since the mid-twentieth century, used for religious services and significant university ceremonies including commencement. It's worth approaching on foot to appreciate how it sits within the broader campus landscape.

Rossborough Inn and Morrill Hall

Two of the oldest surviving structures on campus sit near the southern edge: Rossborough Inn and Morrill Hall. Rossborough Inn dates to the early nineteenth century and originally served travelers moving along the road between Washington and Baltimore — it's one of the few buildings on campus that predates the university itself. Morrill Hall, built in 1898, was among the first permanent academic buildings constructed after the institution took root on this site. Both structures are maintained as part of the campus's historic fabric. Walking past them provides a useful sense of how far back the institution's presence on this land actually extends.

Lake Artemesia

East of the main campus, Lake Artemesia is a 38-acre lake sitting within a larger natural area connected to the Paint Branch stream corridor. The lake itself came into existence during the construction of the Washington Metro system — excavated material was deposited in this area and shaped into what eventually became a recreational landscape.

Today Lake Artemesia is popular with walkers, joggers, cyclists, and anglers. A paved path circles the water, and trail connections extend outward to a broader regional network. The lake is also a reasonable spot for birdwatching; waterfowl use it throughout the year, and the surrounding vegetation draws a variety of species depending on the season. For visitors who want a break from campus buildings and museum galleries, it offers a quieter, more outdoor-focused option that doesn't require much advance planning.

Planning Your Route Through College Park

Most of the University of Maryland campus landmarks — McKeldin Mall, the Testudo statue, Memorial Chapel, Rossborough Inn, and Morrill Hall — can be covered in a single walking loop of a mile or two, depending on your exact route. Starting near McKeldin Library and working your way south toward the older historic structures before looping back is a natural approach.

From the campus, Lake Artemesia is reachable on foot or by bicycle in roughly 20 to 30 minutes via the trail network, making it a reasonable extension of a campus walk if the weather cooperates.

The College Park Airport and Aviation Museum are a short drive or bike ride northeast of campus. The National Archives at College Park is a separate trip to the northwest side of the city — a car is the most practical option for that leg, though public transit also connects to the broader College Park area.

For visitors with a full day, one reasonable sequence: spend the morning at the National Archives if you have research to do (mornings tend to be productive for archival work), move to the campus for a midday walk through the historic and central areas, then finish the afternoon at the airport and museum. That covers the three most geographically distinct clusters without too much backtracking.

If you'd rather have a mapped-out plan, the College Park 1-Day Itinerary offers a practical sequence, and the College Park 3-Day Itinerary covers a wider range of options if you have more time in the area.

Getting Around College Park

The campus is walkable once you're on it, and the trail connections to Lake Artemesia and the airport area make cycling a reasonable option for stretches of this route. The Washington Metro's Green Line serves the College Park area, and local bus routes extend to points around the city. For the National Archives and the airport, a car is often the most efficient choice, though both are reachable by transit with additional walking factored in. Regional transit uses contactless tap-to-pay options; check the relevant transit agency's website for current fare and schedule information before your trip.

Food Near the Landmarks

College Park, MD has a wide range of places to eat, with particular concentration along Route 1 and around the campus perimeter. The area's large student population supports a variety of fast-casual and international options alongside more traditional sit-down restaurants, and the overall range of cuisines is broader than you might expect from a city this size. The Where to Eat in College Park page covers the restaurant landscape in more detail.

For more on planning your time here, the Best Things To Do in College Park page covers attractions and activities beyond what's listed above, and the Best Time to Visit College Park addresses seasonal considerations worth knowing before you book.