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Nearby Parks:
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Fort Washington National Park
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| History of the Area: |
| The first Fort Washington was completed in 1809 and guarded the Nation?s Capital until it was destroyed by its own garrison in 1814. Twelve days later Major Pierre L?Enfant was sent to construct new defenses but worked on the fort for only a brief period before Lieutenant Colonel Walker K. Armistead replaced him. The fort was completed on October 2, 1824. Extensive remodeling was performed in the 1840s and the first guns were mounted in 1846. The masonry fort was occupied by soldiers from the First, Third and Fourth U.S. Artillery during its early history. Except for a few guns at the Washington Arsenal, Fort Washington was the only defense for the Nation?s Capital until the Civil War when a circle of temporary forts was built around the city. Battery Rogers and Fort Foote were the only seacoast forts in the system and armed with large Rodman and Parrott cannons. Fort Washington was garrisoned as the outer defense for the city. Companies of the First and Fourth Artillery as well as numerous state artillery units passed through the post during the war. In 1872 the garrison was removed and additional property purchased to construct a new defense system. Funds for the project was withdrawn and the post was abandoned for the next twenty years.A new defense system, consisting of rifled steel guns in concrete emplacements was authorized in 1886 and work began at Fort Washington in 1891. The next year ground was broken for Battery B, later named Battery Decatur and the guns were mounted in 1896. Eventually eight concrete batteries at Fort Washington and four at Fort Hunt made up the Potomac Defense Command. Prior to World War I Fort Washington was downgraded to harbor defense and the large guns removed. During the war the post was used as a staging area for troops being sent to France. The 8th Provisional Artillery Battalion was organized at the post and sent to France where they became the 53rd Railroad Artillery Regiment. After the war the 3rd Battalion 12th Infantry moved in and became the ceremonial unit for the Military District of Washington.In 1939 the post was abandoned and turned over to the Director of Public Buildings for use as a terminal point for a bridge across the Potomac and a parkway to be built along the shore. Before the transfer was complete the United States entered World War II. Fort Washington was returned to the army and became the home of the Adjutant General?s School. After the war the Veterans Administration managed the post hospital and other government agencies occupied some of the buildings. In 1946 Fort Washington returned to the Department of the Interior. |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Area Campgrounds | | | | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Angler's Lie The
2165 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA
(703) 527-2524
| Holiday Sports Bait & Tackle
4520 Saint Barnabas Rd
Temple Hills, MD
(301) 894-3322
| Dawson's Small Arms of the World
14510 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Woodbridge, VA
(703) 490-3308
| Galyans Sports & Outdoor
12501 Fair Lakes Cir
Fairfax, VA
(703) 803-0300
| Dick's Sporting Goods
12501 Fair Lakes Cir
Fairfax, VA
(703) 803-0300
| Dick Clark Fishing and Hunting Service
3815 Estel Rd
Fairfax, VA
(703) 385-5436
| Rod & Reel Repair
3612 Lee Hwy
Arlington, VA
(703) 528-3022
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Great Eastern Resorts Corp
1549 Old Bridge Rd
Woodbridge, VA
(703) 494-8505
| Sandals All Inclusive Resorts by Preferrd TRVL Inc
8432 Old Keene Mill Rd
Springfield, VA
(703) 644-6844
| Exclusive Resorts
1650 Tysons Blvd
Mc Lean, VA
(703) 734-8970
| Fairfield Resorts
1757 King St
Alexandria, VA
(703) 837-3400
| Rustic Retreats
4354 Warren St NW
Washington, DC
(202) 686-5339
| Atlantis Resort The
1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC
(202) 349-4076
| Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
12777 Fair Lakes Circle
Fairfax, VA
(703) 818-1234
| Residence Inn by Marriott
12815 Fair Lakes Pkwy
Fairfax, VA
(703) 266-4900
| Teen Winter Sports
3821 Bevan Dr
Fairfax, VA
(703) 385-8100
| Courtyard Springfield
6710 Commerce St
Springfield, VA
(703) 924-7200
| Animal Resorts Inc
3208 Colvin St
Alexandria, VA
(703) 823-3647
| Rosen Hotels & Resorts
908 King St
Alexandria, VA
(703) 780-4009
| Fairmont Hotels & Resorts The
705 Avon pl
Alexandria, VA
(703) 299-6763
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts: Tysons Corner Marriott
8028 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA
(703) 734-3200
| Courtyard by Marriott
2722 Gallows Rd
Vienna, VA
(703) 573-9555
| Residence Inn-Tysons Corner
8616 Westwood Center Dr
Vienna, VA
(703) 893-0120
| Crestline Hotels & Resorts
8405 Greensboro Dr
Mc Lean, VA
(571) 382-1700
| Adams Marks Hotels & Resorts
2600 Roswell CT
Falls Church, VA
(703) 205-2901
| Adams Mark Hotels & Resorts
12304 Macrina CT
Woodbridge, VA
(703) 492-7444
| Best Western Arlington Inn & Tower
2480 S Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA
(703) 685-0051
| Starwood Hotels & Resorts
1306 S Norwood St
Arlington, VA
(703) 271-0972
| Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
1325 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA
(703) 525-1234
| Westin Hotels & Resorts
801 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA
(703) 717-6204
| Interstate Hotels & Resorts
4501 Fairfax Dr
Arlington, VA
(703) 351-9934
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts
1999 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Arlington, VA
(703) 418-0789
| Courtyard-Alexandria
2700 Eisenhower Ave
Alexandria, VA
(703) 329-2323
| Silliman Thomas Associates
425 N Lee St
Alexandria, VA
(703) 548-4100
| Courtyard-Fairfax Oaks
11220 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy
Fairfax, VA
(703) 273-6161
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts: Fairview Park Marriott
3141 Fairview Park Dr # R10
Falls Church, VA
(703) 849-9400
| Residence Inn-Fairfax Merrifld
8125 Gatehouse Rd
Falls Church, VA
(703) 573-5200
| Sandals Resorts Specialists-Perfect Hnymns & Hldys
2110 Gallows Rd # C
Vienna, VA
(703) 748-3000
| TownePlace Suites by Marriott
205 Hillwood Ave
Falls Church, VA
(703) 237-6172
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