Built to defend the river approach to Washington, DC, Fort Washington (then known as Fort Warburton) was completed December 1, 1809. When the War of 1812 started, General William Winder sent orders to Captain Samuel Dyson, “to advance a guard up to the main road upon all the roads leading to the fort, and in the event of his being taken in the rear of the fort by the enemy, to blow up the fort and retire across the river.” After Washington was burned by the British Capt. Dyson gave the order to blow up Fort Washington.
After the War of 1812 the government began preparing for a new fortification system to resist the next American-European war.
The current historic fort was initially constructed in 1824. It is a stone structure with a good cannon shot down the Potomac River. The fort was extensively remodeled in the 1840s and 1890s. The Fort was turned over to the U..S. Department of the Interior in 1946 after its last military personnel departed.
The Fort Washington Lighthouse, located below the fort, was established in 1857.
The current tower, standing 28 feet tall, was constructed in 1882.
There is no charge for entry.
13551 Fort Washington Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744
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