Rumsey Monument Park in Shepherdstown, WV overlooking a snowy Potomac River.
-Jan. 2026
Rumsey Monument Park To Bloom This Spring
During the February 11 Town Council meeting, Council Member and Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Cheryl Roberts previewed draft plans for spring plantings and continued improvements at Rumsey Monument Park (image below). Phase 1 renovations are complete, she reported, with results of fall plantings to become visible as warmer weather arrives. To pay for Phase 1, the Town Council accepted a (generous) donation from Hank Walter, who has also committed to funding future improvements including two new parking spaces, a pad for a future bike rack, a rain garden, and restoration of a pad for the park's C&O Canal historical marker, which was vandalized and removed years ago. A formal proposal for the additional improvements and the associated donation will come before the Council in March.
-From the Observer Weekly Email, February 12, 2026
Welcome to the Rumseyan Society
Mission Statement
The Rumseyan Society is organized to support the maintenance and improvement of the Rumsey Monument Park owned by the Municipal Corporation of Shepherdstown, WV.
Purpose and Goals
Preservation: Preserve a historic landmark (and its legacy) within the town of Shepherdstown, WV
Innovation: Inspire creativity by showcasing the achievement of an American inventor in an environment surrounded by ingenuity
Conservation: Enable community members and park visitors to connect with and appreciate natural resources through recreational activities
Community Engagement: Enhance guest well-being and enjoyment with an accessible, clean and safe park
Become a Friend of the Rumsey Monument
Join the Rumseyan Society. Your support helps us continue efforts to maintain the historic Rumsey Monument Park in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, ensuring its scenic grounds and towering monument remain a beautiful, accessible tribute for generations to come. Please join today—every contribution directly sustains this wonderful historical site. Thank you for helping keep history alive!
