John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

by Judy Wolinsky

Title

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

Artist

Judy Wolinsky

Medium

Photograph - Photography / Digital Art

Description

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. The first known inhabitants of the area were the Lenape people. For generations, these indigenous people cared for this land now know as Tinicum Marsh. The Lenape called this land Tennakon Minquas or “islands of the marsh”. Originally this land spread for more than 5,000 acres, by the 1950's the area dwindled down to 200 acres. The Lenape lived off this land until the mid- 1600’s when European settlers arrived. The growth is the Philadelphia are saw a diminishing of this area. In 1955 Gulf Oil Corporation donated 145 non-tidal acres to the city of Philadelphia which is know as the Tinicum Wildlife Refuge. In 1969, the proposed routing of Interstate 95 through the marsh and the construction of a landfill greatly threatened the area. Local residents tired of seeing the further destruction of this area started petitioning and with legal injunctions, public hearings, and extraordinary efforts succeeded both the highway’s rerouting and the landfill operation preserving the area. In 1972, legislation was passed by Congress, authorizing protection of the 1,200 acres, establishing the Tinicum National Environmental Center. In 1991, the refuge was renamed posthumously to honor Senator John Heinz for his commitment to the conservation of the marsh.

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September 30th, 2022

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