The $725,000 statue is among 10 pieces being featured at National Harbor, which include sculpture, metal art, a terrazzo map of the Chesapeake region, and mosaic designs. Rocell Viniard, National Harbor’s marketing director, said more artwork will be added.
The development features four piers, including two marinas, a park and green space. One commercial pier will be used for water taxis that will run between National Harbor and Alexandria and Mount Vernon in Virginia; between the harbor and Georgetown and for lunch and dinner cruises.
Viniard said the water taxi service will begin April 15 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center’s pier and will expand in May to National Harbor’s pier. National Harbor officials hope to expand the water taxi service to include the new Washington Nationals stadium this baseball season, although plans have not been finalized.
Another pier, already sold out, leases space for boats 40 feet and longer, said Kent Digby, National Harbor’s vice president of operations.
‘‘There’s a lot of activity that will happen on our waterfront,” Digby said.
A recreation pier will offer fishing, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing and water skiing. The marina is scheduled to open April 15.
Summer events include a concert series and a Food and Wine Festival.
The Capital Children’s Museum is moving to National Harbor for a 2012 opening, and will be renamed the National Children’s Museum.
The development will also feature an entertainment district opening on Fleet Street near the Gaylord property. Businesses opening include Public House, a bar and restaurant; Cadillac Ranch, a bar and grill featuring live music and a mechanical bull; Bobby McKey’s, a dueling piano bar; and Timothy Dean Bistro, a jazz lounge. The district will open this summer.
Inside the Gaylord hotel, restaurants and shops designed to reflect the history and traditions of the metropolitan area will be open to the public.
‘‘The hotel is really all about showcasing the entire region,” said Amie Gorrell, Gaylord’s public relations director.
The attractions at National Harbor are a different mix for Prince George’s than is currently available in the county, especially since the development will include an emphasis on public art and the new children’s museum, said J. Matthew Neitzey, executive director of the Prince George’s County Conference and Visitors’ Bureau.
Neitzey said the Patuxent, Potomac and Anacostia rivers already feature nature-related attractions such as the National Colonial Farm and Jug Bay.
National Harbor, however, will give visitors the chance to experience the Potomac River ‘‘in a different, more urban, more modern commercial kind of context” that includes residential and retail, Neitzey said.
He said that as a result, National Harbor and the Gaylord hotel will attract visitors who may not have previously visited the county and will give the county an opportunity to market its other attractions, such as Six Flags America in Largo.
‘‘I think once you open people’s eyes to the possibilities, now they’re more likely to consider [Prince George’s] and think of doing something else here in the county,” Neitzey said. ‘‘We’ve got tons of other things for them to see and do here.”
E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.
2008 Events
May 16 – 18: Food and Wine Festival
May 31 – Oct. 18: American Market (locally grown fresh foods)
June 5 – 8: Yacht Show
June-August: Summer Concert Series, Fridays.
July 3: Independence Day Celebration
Sept. 27: Oktoberfest
Nov. 28: Tree Lighting Celebration and Fireworks
Nov. 29 – Dec. 24: Voicesof National Harbor, 7 p.m.every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
For more, visitwww.nationalharbor.com.
