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All the United States Maryland Fort Washington Fort Washington
AO Edited

Fort Washington

This fort down the Potomac from Washington, D.C. was once the only defensive fort protecting the capital.

Fort Washington, Maryland

Added By
Elliot Carter
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Old swivel rails   Elliot Carter / Atlas Obscura User
View of the later improvements   Elliot Carter / Atlas Obscura User
Visitors are free to explore the fort   Elliot Carter / Atlas Obscura User
Coehorn mortars circa 1900   National Park Service
inside the fort   brf2001 / Atlas Obscura User
fort wall   brf2001 / Atlas Obscura User
entrance   brf2001 / Atlas Obscura User
Doorway   thedude771 / Atlas Obscura User
Pathway   thedude771 / Atlas Obscura User
Main Gate   thedude771 / Atlas Obscura User
An abandoned battery at Fort Washington   lorie shaull / Atlas Obscura User
Visitor’s Center at Fort Washington   lorie shaull / Atlas Obscura User
“Help Me Obi Wan Kenobi”   erkiletian / Atlas Obscura User
inside the fort   brf2001 / Atlas Obscura User
Green   erkiletian / Atlas Obscura User
door mechanism   brf2001 / Atlas Obscura User
The view looking north   Elliot Carter / Atlas Obscura User
There’s a row of old cannons   Elliot Carter / Atlas Obscura User
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About

During the War of 1812, 4,000 veteran Redcoats landed on the Patuxent River, marched in a wide arc around Fort Washington—the only defensive fortification in the area until the Civil War—and burned the Capitol. 

Three days later a squadron of 10 Royal Navy warships approached Fort Washington and began shelling it. The fort's commander, Captain Dyson, retreated with his small garrison of men and blew up the magazine, destroying the fort. Dyson received a court martial for his actions. 

After the war, Fort Washington was quickly rebuilt at the request of President Monroe. Today, the guns on the old fort still look down on the Potomac, guarding the southern approach to the nation's capital. It is one of the more interesting military history sites in the region. 

Pierre L'Enfant oversaw construction of the brick and masonry structure we have today. L'Enfant's design drew heavily on the concept of a star fort. Two layers of triangular bastions produced overlapping fields of cannon and musket fire. Guns were located both within the walls and on the top parapet. This design remained largely unchanged through the Civil War.

One of the most interesting things about Fort Washington is that it was continuously expanded over the 19th and early 20th centuries, and you can see progressive generations of military hardware side by side. Ironclad battleship design steamed ahead in the 1870s and 1880s, and Secretary of War William Endicott lobbied for the construction of a new system of coastal defenses. In 1890 a mining casemate was added alongside the old masonry fort. Technicians inside this reinforced bunker could electronically fire off underwater mines that were strung out across the Potomac. 

The fort's offensive armament also increased during this period. New 12-inch mortars at Battery Meigs could direct plunging fire into the thinly armored decks of modern battleships. The concrete platforms in front of the old fort mounted direct fire cannons on disappearing carriages. Many of these modern cannons were later removed and shipped to France for use as railroad artillery during World War I.

In 1939 the obsolete and denuded fort was transferred to the Department of the Interior, which wanted to redevelop it as a park. The plans were slowed down by World War II, when the Department of War temporarily put the fort back into service. After 1946, the  temporary World War-era administrative buildings were torn down and expanded visitor facilities. Today you can wander around the old fort and take a trip through Washington history.

Related Tags

Forts Military Military History History

Know Before You Go

Easiest access is by car, south from DC on Maryland Route 210, and right onto Fort Washington Road. There is a fee at the front gate of the park.

Community Contributors

Added By

Elliot Carter

Edited By

AF, brf2001, rugby007, thedude771...

  • AF
  • brf2001
  • rugby007
  • thedude771
  • lorie shaull
  • erkiletian

Published

December 29, 2016

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Sources
  • http://architectofthecapital.org/posts/2016/6/19/fort-washington
  • https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/NR_PDFs/NR-14.pdf
  • ranger20607@yahoo.com
Fort Washington
Unnamed Road
Fort Washington, Maryland, 20744
United States
38.712004, -77.034268
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Remains of Truxton Circle Fountain

Fort Washington, Maryland

miles away

P.O. Box 1142 Memorial

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

George Washington Memorial Tree

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fort Washington

Fort Washington

Maryland

Places 4

Nearby Places

Remains of Truxton Circle Fountain

Fort Washington, Maryland

miles away

P.O. Box 1142 Memorial

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

George Washington Memorial Tree

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fort Washington

Fort Washington

Maryland

Places 4

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