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Possible closures due to Hurricane Sandy
Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, park areas may be temporarily closed. Please call (202) 895-6070 for more information and park conditions. More »
In Defense of the Nations Capital
On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. Built by Union forces, these strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities.
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Forts of Washington
Although many of the fortifications have crumbled away, their intriguing and compelling stories are very much a part of our national history.
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Urban Planning for Recreation
The McMillan Plan of 1902 recognized the recreational potential in the pattern of open spaces of the circle of Civil War defenses...
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Natural Resource Protection
The National Park Service Civil War Defenses of Washington sites preserve significant natural features...
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Did You Know?
The Potomac River is often used by the bald eagle as a flyway.It is not unusual for them to be seen along the areas of Forts Carroll, Foote, and Marcy. Bald eagles also have successfully nested in Fort Circle Park areas in the southeast section of the city.