D.C. Defenses, which forts?

[davepi2]

Question for those knowledgeable about the D.C. defenses. I have had to forget about my planned trip to Mobile and instead choose closer to home. I have picked a trip that includes South Mountain, Monocacy and Fort Stevens. Since I will be in the D.C. area I want to visit some of the other locations as well. I have Fort Stevens, Fort Foote and Fort Ward as for sure stops but I would also like to visit Fort Ethan Allen and Fort C.F. Smith. Of the last two which would you recommend since I am not sure if there will be time for both? It would seem that other than Fort Washington which will not be possible for me to visit most of the Forts although being located in what are now nice parks have been mostly lost and these are the best choices. The Fort Stanton Overlook is a possibility to fit in but those are the locations that right now I am looking at.

 

[David Moore]

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

www.alexandriava.gov

 

[SQD8GOING]

Not much to see at Fort Stanton, also not really the best area to be wandering around in.

 

[davepi2]

Not much to see at Fort Stanton, also not really the best area to be wandering around in.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't know about the area but I did know there wasn't much left. The main attraction being the overlook of the city.

 

[davepi2]

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

www.alexandriava.gov

Thank you very much, not sure how I missed this one.

 

[davepi2]

Thanks for the tip. The main attraction there would have been the overlook of the city. As for the area it can't be worse than the area around Camp Chase here in Columbus, Ohio where I live. I can skip overlooks though. I will be seeing the Washington Monument outside Boonesboro. It's also hard to top Lookout Mountain or Mount Washington in Pittsburg for overlooks.

 

[David Moore]

Ft Stevens is the most important historically.
There is a nearby national cemetery.
Most of the forts are parks today- I live across the street from one- with little more than signage. Some have a cannon or two.
Ft Ward is by far the best preserved.

Battleground National Cemetery (U.S. National Park Service)

CWDW, Civil War Defenses of Washington, Washington D.C., Civil War, NPS, Places To Go, Battleground National Cemetery, Fort Stevens

www.nps.gov

 

[David Moore]

I was at Camp Chase a few years ago - with some local CW experts - and the area seemed ok in a car.
The Eastern forts of DC are in a much more problematic area safety wise- isolated, overgrown with vegetation, inaccesible. I'm not sure the Park Service even encourages visitation to them. Here is a link to NPS sites in DC. The Virginia sites like Ft Ward are under local administration.

Places - Civil War Defenses of Washington (U.S. National Park Service)

Places

www.nps.gov

 

[davepi2]

I was at Camp Chase a few years ago - with some local CW experts - and the area seemed ok in a car.
The Eastern forts of DC are in a much more problematic area safety wise- isolated, overgrown with vegetation, inaccesible. I'm not sure the Park Service even encourages visitation to them. Here is a link to NPS sites in DC. The Virginia sites like Ft Ward are under local administration.

Places - Civil War Defenses of Washington (U.S. National Park Service)

Places

www.nps.gov

I guess the question should be asked is Fort Stevens safe?

 

[Story]

Compare and Contrast

https://npshistory.com/publications/cwdw/index.htm

Washington, DC Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

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www.neighborhoodscout.com

 

[David Moore]

I guess the question should be asked is Fort Stevens safe?

It is. Its off of two busy streets in a fairly busy diverse ethnic area. Basically hard working people who abhor crime like most people do. The only daytime problems I've heard of lately is when nearby schools let out and students get a bit "exuberant "
I presume you'll have a car. There's places to park at Ft Stevens and Battleground National Cemetery.
Btw I lived near and played at Ft Stevens when I was a kid. Many decades ago

 

[davepi2]

It is. Its off of two busy streets in a fairly busy diverse ethnic area. Basically hard working people who abhor crime like most people do. The only daytime problems I've heard of lately is when nearby schools let out and students get a bit "exuberant "
I presume you'll have a car. There's places to park at Ft Stevens and Battleground National Cemetery.
Btw I lived near and played at Ft Stevens when I was a kid. Many decades ago

Thank you very much David, be there either 11/8 or 11/9.

 

[David Moore]

I'm

Thank you very much David, be there either 11/8 or 11/9.

Send me a PM and maybe I can meet up with you. I live about 20 min from Ft Stevens. I hope you've been to Sunbury Ohio

 

[davepi2]

I'm

Send me a PM and maybe I can meet up with you. I live about 20 min from Ft Stevens. I hope you've been to Sunbury Ohio

Will do, looks like Sunday 11/10/24 now at around 100PM. I am going to be in Frederick touring South Mountain, Monocacy, Middletown, Bukittsville and Frederick the 8th and 9th. I'm easy to spot, 70 years old wearing either Ohio or Columbus Blue Jacket shirt and I am a double for John McCain.

 

[USS ALASKA]

The Forts of Washington, DC. | Forts, Fortifications, & Other Forgotten Places

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF ENGINEERS OF DEFENSES, Washington, October 14, 1863. Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: SIR; A Commission having been ordered by you a year ago, to examine into the system of the defenses of Washington, and that report having received your approval, I feel it proper...

civilwartalk.com

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[Joshik72]

If you're on the Arlington VA side of the Potomac, Fort Ward (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207505) is definitely a top choice as they rebuilt the NW portion of the fort to near original standards. Fort CF Smith has a decent preserved section, along with a small office/"museum" - easy parking. Fort Marcy is in the woods up on the GW Memorial Parkway (pass the Key Bridge, CIA Headquarters, and it's on the right before you meet 495) - this fort is naturally preserved, and you can walk in it and see most of the defining features (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207513). Even though Fort Ethan Allen is close to Fort Marcy, it is difficult to get from one to the other without traveling a long convoluted route - so I'd skip Fort Ethan Allen if you have limited time. If you have extra time, the humble Fort Willard (south side of Alexandria) is in a lovely neighborhood and is well preserved (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207481).

In DC, absolutely visit Fort Stevens (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207521) - easy street parking on 13th street by the nearby church. From there, head west to Fort DeRussy (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/117886579), just at the north end of Rock Creek Park - this fort is in a fine state of natural preservation; take Military Road (of course) to Oregon Ave NW (school on opposite side of street) and you can park on the right side (by the intersection). If you have time, Fort Totten is off the beaten path, but is also well preserved. These forts are not that far from one another, so you can visit several. There are more that are preserved, but this is already an awful lot for one trip...

 

[davepi2]

If you're on the Arlington VA side of the Potomac, Fort Ward (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207505) is definitely a top choice as they rebuilt the NW portion of the fort to near original standards. Fort CF Smith has a decent preserved section, along with a small office/"museum" - easy parking. Fort Marcy is in the woods up on the GW Memorial Parkway (pass the Key Bridge, CIA Headquarters, and it's on the right before you meet 495) - this fort is naturally preserved, and you can walk in it and see most of the defining features (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207513). Even though Fort Ethan Allen is close to Fort Marcy, it is difficult to get from one to the other without traveling a long convoluted route - so I'd skip Fort Ethan Allen if you have limited time. If you have extra time, the humble Fort Willard (south side of Alexandria) is in a lovely neighborhood and is well preserved (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207481).

In DC, absolutely visit Fort Stevens (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/122207521) - easy street parking on 13th street by the nearby church. From there, head west to Fort DeRussy (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/117886579), just at the north end of Rock Creek Park - this fort is in a fine state of natural preservation; take Military Road (of course) to Oregon Ave NW (school on opposite side of street) and you can park on the right side (by the intersection). If you have time, Fort Totten is off the beaten path, but is also well preserved. These forts are not that far from one another, so you can visit several. There are more that are preserved, but this is already an awful lot for one trip...

Thanks for the tip on Willard, I will have to look that one up. I am planning Ethan Allen because I would like to see the marker at the site of the duel.