Civil War Heritage - DC Region

A visit to John Brown's Fort is more than seeing the building where John Brown and several of his followers barricaded themselves in 1859. The building has a complex history that begins in 1848, continues through to today, and includes four locations in Harpers Ferry and one in Chicago. We invite you to visit this famous Harpers Ferry building and discover what it means to you.

Take a tour or walk the grounds of Arlington House to learn how it has served as a family home, a military headquarters, a national cemetery, and much more. When visiting Arlington House, you may walk through the mansion at your own pace or you can ask if there is a scheduled tour available. The tours start on the hour and take between thirty and forty-five minutes. Normally, tours occur on weekends in the winter or every day in the summer.

Monocacy National Battlefield encompasses several centuries of history, which reflect events of both national and local significance.

Over 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors served in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. Their service helped to end the war and free over four million slaves. The African American Civil War Memorial honors their service and sacrifice.

Few places in Washington, DC, are as well-known or as inspiring as the Lincoln Memorial. Here you can experience how a nation remembers one of its great leaders, and the enduring values of union, emancipation, justice, and healing.

On the night of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. He died in the early hours of April 15, in the small back bedroom of a boarding house across the street. Lincoln, who had struggled through the Civil War to preserve the union, lived long enough to see it maintained but not long enough to help in healing the wounds left by the war. The Theatre where Lincoln was shot and the house where he died, are preserved today.

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. 

Ever wonder how Civil War cannons were fired? Visit the park the first Sunday of every month from May to November to watch the Fort Washington Guard demonstrate and explain the procedures used during the muzzle-loading era of American Artillery.