Civil War Defenses of Washington

On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batteries armed with over 800 cannons encircled Washington, DC. Today, you can visit 18 of the original sites now managed by the National Park Service.

Where it is

, DC,MD,VA.

What people do there

• Arts and Culture
• Theater
• Biking
• Mountain Biking
• Road Biking
• Food
• Picnicking
• Guided Tours
• Self-Guided Tours - Walking
• Self-Guided Tours - Auto
• Hiking
• Living History

Getting there

Directions vary based on your preference of site.

Weather

Check the weather forecast for each individual site for accurate information.

Where this page came from

This page was imported from U.S. National Park Service. Material produced by the National Park Service is in the public domain.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.