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Fort Totten

Fort Totten was one of the Union Army’s defensive fortifications ringing Washington during the Civil War, built in 1861 to protect the northeastern approaches to the capital. The fort’s earthworks still survive in the park that bears its name today, and the neighborhood that grew up around it has become one of DC’s most transit-connected communities since Metro arrived. These posts explore Fort Totten’s history from Civil War stronghold to modern neighborhood.

5 stories
1907 map of northeast D.C.
1907 Map of Northeast Washington, DC When It Was Rural1 min read

A 1907 Library of Congress map shows the rural landscape of Northeast Washington.

Camp, Fort Totten
Fort Totten During World War I: A Military Camp at the Edge of the City1 min read

This World War I-era photograph shows a military camp near Fort Totten in Washington, D.C., one of the Civil War fortifications that ringed the capital and was repurposed during the First World War.

Fort Totten in Washington, DC: Civil War Photos1 min read

Three Civil War photographs of Fort Totten in Washington, DC: the fort itself, its interior, and a 100 pound Parrott gun at the fort.

Men and gun of 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery at ornamental gate of Fort Totten
Fort Totten’s Gate in 18651 min read

Men of the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery stand with a gun at Fort Totten’s ornamental gate in an 1865 photograph.

1862 Civil War Map of Washington, DC Fortifications1 min read

An 1862 Civil War map of Washington, DC and its surroundings, showing the fortifications around the city, including Fort Totten and Fort Lincoln.

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