Revolutionary War Encampment and Skirmish
Fort Ward in Alexandria, Virginia is one of the best-preserved examples of Civil War era fortifications and defenses of the city of Washington and an excellent example military engineering of that period.
The fort was built used during the Civil War to protect the capital of the Union, Washington, from Confederate invasion. As a bastion fortification or star shaped fort, it provides the ability to have cross-fire support from other parts of the fort. Fort Ward encompasses both earthwork walls and protective fences that in some places are as high as 20 feet.
You can tour the fort and its grounds, including its powder magazines and munitions filling room, gun platforms, officers hut and cannons, as well as underground bomb shelters that housed up to 500 men in the event of a bombardment.
As part of George Washington’s Birthday celebration in suburban Alexandria, VA, revolutionary American troops and British Redcoats will muster, parade and skirmish in a mock battle accompanied by expert narration.
You can also tour the museum, which holds around 2,000 items from the Civil War period, mostly items related to the Washington and Virginia area.
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
4301 W. Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 223O4
703-838-4848
Date - February 18th with the muster starting at 10:00 a.m. and the skirmish beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Admission - Free
Museum Hours - Tuesday - Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday - Noon - 5:00 p.m., Closed Mondays
Nearest Metro subway station – King Street - Blue adn Yellow lines - then take the Alexandria Transit/Dash bus #5 to the fort stop (about 15 minutes). Busses run about every 20 minutes.
Map courtesy of West End Business Association, Alexandria, VA. Photo credits: flickr
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