Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
invade Washington anyway, and Fort Warburton was destroyed by Americans so that it wouldn't fall
into British hands.
Shortly after the war ended, reconstruction began and Fort Washington was established in the 1840s.
During the Civil War, with Confederate Virginia just across the river, it served to protect Washington
from the South. Just before World War II, the fort closed and was turned over to the Director of Public
Buildings. With the entry of the United States into the war, the fort reopened temporarily as the Adjut-
ant General School, and was returned to the Department of the Interior. It's now a national park rich in
history and popular for hiking and family picnics.
As you walk from the parking lot to the visitor center, you will pass the ruins of Battery Decatur.
This structure once held two cannons on the top, with ammunition and gunpowder stored below. The
visitor center has maps and books on the history if you want to explore further. Spend some time at the
fort going through the barracks, kitchen, and up to the rows of cannons along the wall. There are nice
views of the river from the end of the fort.
The Potomac River was, and still is, an important route for commerce. The river presents naviga-
tional issues with its rocks and other hazards. The Fort Washington lighthouse was not officially part
of the fort, but when it was decided a lighthouse was necessary, the first one was built in 1857 and be-
came the responsibility of the ordnance sergeant. It was originally a simple pole with a light on top. It
evolved into a tower with reflecting lamp on top, a light keeper's house, boathouse, and a dock. There
is still a beacon here, operated by the US Coast Guard, but the lighthouse itself has been out of com-
mission since 1954.
From the lighthouse, pick up the River Trail. Walking along the river, look for waterfowl and
beavers along the water's edge. At the battery ruins, turn around. Retrace your steps along the River
Trail to return to the fort and trailhead.
