One of the forts that defneded Washington during the Civil War... A very nice place to visit, with information about the historic nature and function of the Fort... Excellent for a picnic too... Usually quiet in a very nice setting...

If you love America, visit all the historical spots in Alexandria. At Fort Ward you will find a new appreciation for the struggles that we have faced as a nation. It is an incredibly emotional visit.

I would bet that most people drive past Fort Ward and never give it a second thought.

The Fort was one of several constructed by Union Forces during the Civil War to protect Washington D.C. from Confederate attack. Only Fort Ward and maybe one or two others still exist in some form or another.

The earthen walls can still be seen, though not as imposing as they might have once been, but you can still see how the fort was laid out and some parts of it are better preserved than others. The fort also has several examples of cannon available to see.

The museum at Fort Ward is nice and has some good items to view.

Aside from the history, the fort offers a walking trail, some picnic tables and plenty of parking. Be on the lookout for special events, such as the one we went to in December, which was a Christmas in the Civil War event. Reenactors were there to explain how the cannon were used, the small arms used, uniforms, how Christmas was celebrated, etc.

The park is free, though donations are encouraged.

We enjoyed our two-hour trip here. Lots of green space. I imagine the park has been hit by some heavy usage, as there were signs asking us to keep to the paths and stay off the cannons.

Small playground at the bottom of a hill.

It was a nice visit. Come here to connect with history, not nature.