Civil War Defenses of Washington

Volunteers will join members of Ward 8 Woods to clean up litter and debris and remove invasive vines on the second Saturday of every month from 10:30am-1:00pm. Meet at 555 Newcomb Street SE.

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk-through Battleground National Cemetery exploring Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Washington, D.C.’s past is written in stone.  Part of the National Park Service’s Freedom250 commemoration, this program invites visitors to reflect on sacrifice, citizenship, and the enduring power of public memory. 

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk through Battleground National Cemetery to explore Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Washington, DC’s past is written in stone. As a part of the Freedom 250 commemoration, this program invites visitors to reflect on sacrifice, citizenship, and the enduring power of public memory. 

Please note that parking is limited to public streets. 

Step into the daily life of a Civil War soldier and learn why drill and teamwork were essential to survival. Visitors will practice simple, historically inspired drill movements and hear stories about training, boredom, camaraderie, and daily life in camp. Explore a reproduction Civil War tent to see where soldiers lived, slept, and stored their belongings. This program is part of the Freedom 250 initiative, connecting the experiences of Civil War soldiers to the evolving story of American freedom.  

After the drill, reenactors and the public will hike to Fort DeRussy.

Step into the daily life of a Civil War soldier and learn why drill and teamwork were essential to survival. Visitors will practice simple, historically inspired drill movements and hear stories about training, boredom, camaraderie, and daily life in camp. Explore a reproduction Civil War tent to see where soldiers lived, slept, and stored their belongings. This program is part of the Freedom 250 initiative, connecting the experiences of Civil War soldiers to the evolving story of American freedom.  

During the Civil War, women found ways to participate in and support the war effort, including serving in roles that challenged traditional expectations. Visitors will interact with living history reenactors to tell the stories of those who served and fought despite going against the conventions of the times they lived in.  This program is part of the Freedom 250 initiative, connecting the experiences of Civil War soldiers to the evolving story of American freedom.   

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk-through Battleground National Cemetery to explore Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Washington, DC’s past is written in stone. As a part of the Freedom 250 commemoration, this program invites visitors to reflect on sacrifice, citizenship, and the enduring power of public memory.

Please note that parking is limited to public streets.

Step into sturdy boots and grab an imaginary field journal—it’s time to wander back to the 1800s! 

Long before hashtags and hiking gear, adventurous women were roaming forests, pressing wildflowers, studying birds, and turning curiosity into courage. They weren’t just admiring nature—they were helping spark the Naturalist Movement and laying the groundwork for conservation.  

Join us to uncover the stories of these trailblazing women who transformed gardens, fields, and woodlands into spaces of science, creativity, and bold new ideas. 

Come ready to explore, imagine, and see the natural world through the eyes of the wild and wise. 

Walk the ground where soldiers fought in the sweltering summer of 1864, when Georgia Avenue—then the Seventh Street Road—became a Civil War front line. Along the way, explore the harsh realities Civil War soldiers faced—exhaustion, fear, heat, hunger, and the uncertainty of survival. Each participant will carry the story of a real soldier, sealed in an envelope at the start. When we arrive at Battleground National Cemetery, you’ll open it to discover that soldier’s fate—bringing the human cost of the battle powerfully to life. This program is part of the Freedom 250 initiative, connecting the experiences of Civil War soldiers to the evolving story of American freedom.   

What would you have done during the Civil War? 

If your home became a hospital… 
If your community called for supplies… 
If soldiers needed care, comfort, and courage—would you have stepped forward? 

Join us for Women at War: Ladies’ Aid in the Mid-Atlantic Region During the Civil War and discover the powerful stories of women who did exactly that. From Nurse Jenny White of Armory Square Hospital, to Helen Gilson, Director of the Hospital for black Soldiers, to Susan B. Anthony and the creation of the Women’s National Loyal League- these women proved the battlefield wasn’t the only place history was made. 

Through historic images and reproduction Civil War–era items, explore how women sustained armies, supported communities, and helped shape the evolving story of American freedom as part of our Freedom 250 initiative.