Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Brendan S
Arlington, VA1,554 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Fort Stevens is the site of a Civil War battle in 1864 in which a Confederate attack on Washington DC was repulsed by the garrison of Fort Stevens, one of the forts surrounding the city. Abraham Lincoln observed the battle and legend has it that he came under fire while standing on the ramparts of the fort during the battle.
All that remains of the Fort are the ramparts, a moat, and some cannon emplacements and cannon. There are several small plaques. One briefly describes the battle, another depicts the layout of the fort and another one mentions Lincoln under fire. The whole thing takes a few minutes to see.
I was disappointed at how little there was. This battle wasn't Gettysburg, but dozens were killed on both sides, and it was probably the closest the Confederates came to capturing the Capitol. That seems like enough to warrant a little more information about the forces that were there and the context of the battle, which I had to look up after I visited.
As it currently is, though, just take a look and move on.
All that remains of the Fort are the ramparts, a moat, and some cannon emplacements and cannon. There are several small plaques. One briefly describes the battle, another depicts the layout of the fort and another one mentions Lincoln under fire. The whole thing takes a few minutes to see.
I was disappointed at how little there was. This battle wasn't Gettysburg, but dozens were killed on both sides, and it was probably the closest the Confederates came to capturing the Capitol. That seems like enough to warrant a little more information about the forces that were there and the context of the battle, which I had to look up after I visited.
As it currently is, though, just take a look and move on.
Written July 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prawet J
Washington DC, DC13,366 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
A piece of historic Civil War for DC but in a very poor condition. I went to visit this week and found the place were in bad condition. I saw broken glass everywhere and graffiti on the guns. The Fort is located in good prominent area near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Missouri Avenue. A great place in history and I hope that both the DC government and the U.S. Park Services step up the maintenance and promote it as a significant piece of D.C. history.
Written February 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DCHistoryAndCulture
Washington DC, DC168 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
This is the site of an important Civil War battle that successfully defended Washington, DC from a Confederate attack. President Lincoln was here during a portion of the battle and actually came under enemy fire. Fortunately Mr. Lincoln was unharmed and the Union forces eventually drove back the southerners. It's a nice, all-be-it small park, with a few things to see such as cannons, earthworks, and historical markers.
If you are coming here I highly recommend doing so during a special event. For example, I visited during the 152nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens (1864) and so the National Park Service had organized some very good living history demonstrations - that would not have normally been here. I will come here for other events. More information can be found on the National Park Service web site.
If you are coming here I highly recommend doing so during a special event. For example, I visited during the 152nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens (1864) and so the National Park Service had organized some very good living history demonstrations - that would not have normally been here. I will come here for other events. More information can be found on the National Park Service web site.
Written July 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charley44
Rockville, MD365 contributions
Aug 2019
A friend formerly from California and I went on a weekday morning to visit this critical battlefield. We were able to find parking on a nearby residential neighborhood street without any problems.
STORY: In July 1864, Confederate Gen. Jubal Early was sent to attack the Union Capital, as well as to obtain supplies. The Confederate spies told how badly undermanned were the defenses, especially from the north approaches. Confederate Gen. Lee thought this might be an opportunity to attack Washington, and draw enough troops away from Richmond and Petersburg to allow supplies in. While the capital region is surrounded by the forts, most of the troops were pulled to the siege of Petersburg, VA, the southern gateway to Confederate capital Richmond. Due to the heat, and the tiredness of his men who marched 40 miles in a very short period, the first skirmishes in front of this fort were very short. On the 1st day of the battle, the fort was only manned by quartermaster troops and clerks, convalescents, and overage members of the National Guard, under the command of the Union Army's Quartermaster (Gen. Meigs). By the following day, seasoned, experienced Union troops arrived to face Early commanding a force of about 10,000 troops. When Early discovered that he was facing more than convalescents and clerks, he decided to retire from the battle.
President Lincoln was spending the hot day in his cottage on the grounds of the Old Soldiers home. Of course, he went to see the commotion, and he was nearly shot by Confederate sharpshooters.
The battlefield is on a small rise near the intersection of 13th St. NW and Georgia Avenue. While the scenery north of the battlefield is now urban, the view is excellent from the reconstructed battlements. Three examples of the heavy artillery are present -- a defining force that convinced Early to retire from the field. Explanatory plaques are present, but others have been destroyed.
On the day that we were there, the field was graffiti-free and mostly litter free. We saw no broken glass, empty bottles or cans, or other trash. There were no guards or admissions, and very few visitors. There is evidence that this park area is heavily used by the neighborhood, however.
STORY: In July 1864, Confederate Gen. Jubal Early was sent to attack the Union Capital, as well as to obtain supplies. The Confederate spies told how badly undermanned were the defenses, especially from the north approaches. Confederate Gen. Lee thought this might be an opportunity to attack Washington, and draw enough troops away from Richmond and Petersburg to allow supplies in. While the capital region is surrounded by the forts, most of the troops were pulled to the siege of Petersburg, VA, the southern gateway to Confederate capital Richmond. Due to the heat, and the tiredness of his men who marched 40 miles in a very short period, the first skirmishes in front of this fort were very short. On the 1st day of the battle, the fort was only manned by quartermaster troops and clerks, convalescents, and overage members of the National Guard, under the command of the Union Army's Quartermaster (Gen. Meigs). By the following day, seasoned, experienced Union troops arrived to face Early commanding a force of about 10,000 troops. When Early discovered that he was facing more than convalescents and clerks, he decided to retire from the battle.
President Lincoln was spending the hot day in his cottage on the grounds of the Old Soldiers home. Of course, he went to see the commotion, and he was nearly shot by Confederate sharpshooters.
The battlefield is on a small rise near the intersection of 13th St. NW and Georgia Avenue. While the scenery north of the battlefield is now urban, the view is excellent from the reconstructed battlements. Three examples of the heavy artillery are present -- a defining force that convinced Early to retire from the field. Explanatory plaques are present, but others have been destroyed.
On the day that we were there, the field was graffiti-free and mostly litter free. We saw no broken glass, empty bottles or cans, or other trash. There were no guards or admissions, and very few visitors. There is evidence that this park area is heavily used by the neighborhood, however.
Written August 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melaney68
Chesapeake Beach, MD9,561 contributions
Jun 2019 • Business
I toured Fort Stevens with a National Parks Service Ranger and that made it much more meaningful than if I had simply visited the site alone. There are some signs and markers to explain key happenings. This was one of 68 forts that surrounded Washington, D.C. by the end of the Civil War. Many no longer exist.
Written June 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RangerBear73
Gorham, New Hampshire, United States558 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This is a really great spot and cool fort with rich history. However, the site is not well maintained by any means. It sits outside of the main swath of the park and is a little out of the way but is clearly marked as part of the NPS system. The grounds are littered with trash and other gross items on the ground. I even witnessed several young people throwing McDonald's garbage on the grounds and when I went to pick the items up to throw them away, the garbage can was overflowing and there was no way another piece of garbage was going to fit. And while I know the park service is stretched very thin, I believe this site should be better maintained.
That aside, the history of this little gem is deep and worth exploring. Definitely cool to be standing where Abraham Lincoln once was.
That aside, the history of this little gem is deep and worth exploring. Definitely cool to be standing where Abraham Lincoln once was.
Written November 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,746 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
The Battle of Monocacy is labeled as "The Battle That Saved Washington" during the Civil War. Fought near Frederick, Maryland, on July 9, 1864, Union forces were defeated by Confederate troops. But they delayed the Confederate march toward Washington long enough for the Union Army to regroup and finally repulse the Confederates at Fort Stevens on July 11-12. Fort Stevens was part of the extensive 37-mile-long arrangement of 68 fortifications built around Washington, D.C., during the Civil War. Constructed in 1861, it had a perimeter of 168 yards and places for 10 cannon. In 1862, it was expanded to 375 yards and 19 guns. It guarded the northern approach to the nation's capital, the Seventh Street Turnpike. After being delayed at Monocacy, the Confederates advanced on Washington, D.C., and cavalry attacked Fort Stevens. There was consistent skirmishing and sharpshooting for two days before the Confederates crossed the Potomac River and retreated to Virginia, leaving behind 101 wounded soldiers, including 11 officers. According to many accounts, President Abraham Lincoln rode out to the fort on both days to observe the attack and was briefly under fire by sharpshooters. After the war, Fort Stevens was abandoned. The site, near Georgia Avenue at 13th Street and Quackenbos Street Northwest, includes a stone memorial, a historical marker, earthworks, cannons, a portion of the parapet and one magazine, is now maintained by the National Park Service. The remains of 41 Union soldiers who died in the battle are buried on the grounds of nearby Battleground National Cemetery.
Written February 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JazzMusician2014
Oxford, PA5 contributions
Is there parking for cars on site?
DCHistoryAndCulture
Washington DC, DC168 contributions
Yes there is plenty of street parking close by, and I think all or most of it is free. Also, if you are in town and looking for fun and historical things you can Google our "Washington, DC History & Culture" Meetup site.
Cheers.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Fort Stevens
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Fort Stevens Information
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