Thing to Do

Survey Fort Stevens

Rock Creek Park

Historical reenactor visiting Fort Stephens.

Step Back In Time

Take a step back in time and imagine the sights and sounds of the Civil War at a Civil War Defense of Washington. Fort Stevens, now partially restored, was built to defend the approaches to Washington from the 7th Street Pike (now Georgia Avenue) which was then the main thoroughfare from the north into Washington. 
 
Details
Duration
30-90 Minutes
Activity
Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Service animals are allowed in national parks. For a definition of a service animal, please see the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) definition.

There is no cost to visit the fort. 

 

Reservations
No
Season
Year Round

The fort is open from sunrise to sunset.

Accessibility Information

Park Facilities and Accessibility

The park consists of an open field with mostly uneven ground that may or may not be suitable for wheelchairs. For more information please contact:

Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Lane NW
Washington, D.C. 20015
Telephone: 202-895-6000
Visitor Information: 202-895-6070
Email Us 

Rock Creek Park

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Cannons at Fort Stevens
Cannons and embrasures at Fort Stevens.

NPS

Located atop the parapet of Fort Stevens is a commemorative stone dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. On July 12, 1864, the President stood atop the parapet to observe the fighting and came under fire from Confederate sharpshooters. It is the only time in American history in which a sitting president came under direct fire from an enemy combatant.

Visitors to Fort Stevens can see the place where Lincoln stood, and walk alongside the earthen walls where cannons once fired.

Civil War Battlefields

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Last updated: November 30, 2023