Along the Anacostia River, thousands of years ago, a vibrant Native American community thrived, relying on the natural resources of the land and the water that bisected it. Lush foliage, cattails, fish, and wild game made the region self-sustaining for the Nacotchtank people. They understood the importance of balance between using and protecting the resources of these wetlands, which fell into a devastating period of overuse with the arrival of European settlers. 

However, in the 1930s, a dredging project on the Anacostia River resulted in the government issuing a notice of condemnation of the land. Helen Fowler fought the action, and eventually persuaded Congress to protect eight acres of water gardens by annexing them to Anacostia Park.