[Archived] Fort Ward Tours on Armed Forces Day-May 17

May 17th 10-11:30 AM and 2-3:30PM

In honor of Armed Forces Day on May 17, learn more about the Civil War history of Fort Ward and the Defenses of Washington by attending a soldier-led walking tour of the historic fort.   Museum staff member Kevin Moriarty will conduct two scheduled tours in Union uniform.   Tours will be offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and last 90 minutes each.   Tours are free, but are weather dependent.

Visitors will learn about the extensive Federal defense system that included Fort Ward, how a Civil War fort was designed and built, and army life in the Washington area.   The tour will begin in Fort Ward Museum with an orientation at a map display on the Defenses of Washington and some highlighted objects in Museum exhibits.   Participants will then tour the outdoor historic site, which will include visiting reconstructions of a period Officers’ Hut and the fort’s Ceremonial Entrance Gate, the preserved earthwork features of the fort, and the fully restored Northwest bastion.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the forts remaining in the Civil War Defenses of Washington.  Fort Ward Museum features exhibits, programs and special events throughout the year.  Fort Ward is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in the west end of Alexandria.  Please contact Fort Ward Museum for more information at 703-746-4848, or visit the web site www.fortward.org.