About 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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Check the weather forecast for each individual site for accurate information.
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
The park grounds at Battery Kemble, Battleground National Cemetery, Fort Bayard, Fort Bunker Hill, Fort DeRussy, Fort Reno, Fort Slocum, Fort Stevens, and Fort Totten are managed by Rock Creek Park These sites are open daily from dawn to dusk.
Activities
Current Alerts
Out of an abundance of caution, Fort Totten Park will remain closed east of Fort Totten Drive, south of Gallatin Street/Metropolitan Branch Trail and north of Brookland Ave NE/Farragut St. due to the investigation involving two WWI-era munitions found.
Contact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Explore the Civil War Defenses of Washington Hiker-Biker Trail
Hike or bike the 7-mile trail from Fort Stanton to Fort Mahan and take in scenery that ranges from urban…
Junior Ranger Programs at National Capital Parks - East
Become a Junior Ranger at parks across National Capital Parks – East! Explore, complete a booklet, and earn badges and…
Collect all the National Capital Parks - East Passport Stamps
Start your stamp collection and celebrate every park you visit! Explore historic sites and scenic parks managed by National Capital…
Watch an Artillery Demonstration at Fort Washington Park
Ever wonder how Civil War cannons were fired? Visit the park the first Sunday of every month from May to…
Hike the Northern Loop in Rock Creek Park
Enjoy an easy 5-mile round trip hike around the northern section of Rock Creek Park.
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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