two and half story wooden frame house with double porch and stone corner posts.
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Clara Barton National Historic Site Photography Guide

National Historic Site · Maryland

  • Bortle 8
  • 0 photo spots
  • Clearest: September
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (NPS)

Clara Barton National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Maryland. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.

Clara Barton dedicated her life and energies to help others in times of need - both home and abroad, in peacetime as well as during military emergencies. Glen Echo was her home the last 15 years of her life, and the structure illustrates her dedication and concern for those less fortunate than herself.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
0
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 8
City sky
Clearest month
September
52% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Cabin John
1.8 km (1.1 mi)

Light at Clara Barton

Live
Sunrise
7:24 AM
Sunset
6:24 PM
Golden hour AM
7:07 AM – 8:00 AM
Golden hour PM
5:48 PM – 6:41 PM
Blue hour AM
6:57 AM – 7:07 AM
Blue hour PM
6:41 PM – 6:51 PM
Full darkness
7:53 PM – 5:56 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:35 PM / 1:25 AM
Day length
11h 01m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Clara Barton the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:27 AM8:07 AM4:30 PM5:11 PM243°9h 44m
February7:01 AM7:38 AM5:09 PM5:46 PM255°10h 45m
March7:21 AM7:56 AM6:41 PM7:16 PM268°11h 55m
April6:33 AM7:08 AM7:10 PM7:46 PM284°13h 13m
May5:57 AM6:35 AM7:37 PM8:15 PM296°14h 18m
June5:43 AM6:23 AM7:57 PM8:36 PM302°14h 53m
July5:56 AM6:35 AM7:55 PM8:34 PM299°14h 39m
August6:23 AM6:59 AM7:29 PM8:05 PM289°13h 42m
September6:51 AM7:26 AM6:44 PM7:19 PM275°12h 28m
October7:19 AM7:55 AM5:55 PM6:31 PM260°11h 13m
November6:52 AM7:31 AM4:17 PM4:56 PM247°10h 04m
December7:21 AM8:03 AM4:06 PM4:48 PM240°9h 27m

Computed for the park's reference point (38.9676, -77.1401); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Clara Barton, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:16 AM – 5:26 AM0.212°
March4:25 AM – 5:45 AM1.319°
April2:21 AM – 4:51 AM2.522°
May12:23 AM – 4:03 AM3.722°
June10:36 PM – 3:36 AM5.022°
July10:29 PM – 2:19 AM3.822°
August9:45 PM – 12:15 AM2.522°
September8:50 PM – 10:10 PM1.319°
October8:01 PM – 8:11 PM0.212°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.

Weather & best time to visit

Weather for the Washington, D.C. area.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (61%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.

Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.

Getting there

By Car: Capital Beltway (I-495), Maryland outer loop exit 40 Cabin John Parkway to Clara Barton Parkway; Virginia inner loop exit 41 Clara Barton Parkway East; follow Clara Barton Parkway to MacArthur Boulevard and Glen Echo exit, left onto MacArthur Boulevard, straight across traffic circle at Goldsboro Road, next left onto Oxford Road, end of street, parking lots on the left. By Metro: Red Line to Bethesda or Friendship Heights Station, transfer to Montgomery County Ride-On Bus # 29, Glen Echo stop.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Guided Tours
  • Museum Exhibits

Nearby parks

Glen Echo ParkMD
Glen Echo Park0 km away · Park
George Washington Memorial ParkwayDC/MD
George Washington Memorial Parkway1 km away · Memorial Parkway
Rock Creek ParkDC
Rock Creek Park8 km away · Park
Civil War Defenses of WashingtonDC/MD
Civil War Defenses of Washington10 km away · National Park Service unit
Great Falls ParkVA
Great Falls Park10 km away · Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical ParkDC/MD
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park10 km away · National Historical Park

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Clara Barton National Historic Site?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Clara Barton?
Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Can you fly a drone in Clara Barton?
Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Can you see the Milky Way in Clara Barton?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 8.
What time is sunset in Clara Barton?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:31 PM local time; see the live widget for today.