Fort Washington Park

This outstanding example of 19th century seacoast fortifications was the only permanent fortification ever constructed to defend the nation's capital. During the first year of the Civil War, the fort controlled river access to Alexandria, Georgetown, and Washington, D.C., and maintained a training base for state militia troops from the North. The site was an active military post from 1808 through the end of World War II, but it never fired a shot in anger.