Fort Stevens Park

Hiked around a reconstruction of the famous Fort Stevens. A fair sized parapet reproduced by the CCC in 1936. Unfortunately some disrespectful graffiti on the armaments. Much litter along the curbsides.

I go here for the Fort Stevens Day events and the Lincoln-Thomas Day events, in September. It is a fun Civil Insurrection fort, it was recreated in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

An important fragment of Washington's (then huge) Civil War defensive system surrounded by an urban landscape. The site consists of two earthwork wall (and accompanying outside ditch) cut with gun embrasures. Two large iron 30 Pounder Parrott Rifles (cannon) are in place in tow of the embrasures. There is also a powder magazine bunker, although the doors are closed and it cannot be entered. There is a bronze 3D map showing the layout of the entire fort during the Civil War (the existing site representing only a fragment of the original Fort Stephens). Mounted on a stone, there is a bronze has relief plaque showing an event during Confederate General Juble Early's 1864 raid on Washington. President Lincoln visited the fort to observe the attack and walked the parapet to watch the attackers. The President drew Confederate fire, which struck one of Lincoln's military aides. However, Lincoln did not descend until (allegedly) confronted by a young Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes (later a Justice of the Supreme Court) who called the President a "damned fool" and ordered him off the wall....a command Lincoln (sheepishly?) obeyed. Worth seeing, especially during the infrequent times when Civil War reenactors are present to interpret the site.

People pay big money to see history like at Fort Stevens Park and true to its DC roots, this park is FREE! It's a small green space in NW DC that saw the only Civil War battle in Washington, DC. It's a fort and you can tell that by the ditch surrounding it. Once you jump over the ditch, you'll see several cannons and plaques explaining the battle and why this fort exists. It's also speaks to the woman, a freed slave, who owned the property before it was taken from her by the US government to protect the capital. Fascinating!

Who knew you could visit a battlefield in the middle of the city. The site is well maintained and clean. Parking is a bit difficult as is everywhere in DC.