Great Day Out: Fort Ward

Last week a friend introduced me to Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site in Alexandria, VA. We liked it so much we've been twice already! It's a 10 minute drive from our house and it's perfect for a walk, play and picnic.

Alexandria City's website explains the historical importance of this Civil War site: 
"Fort Ward is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Fort Ward Museum interprets the site's history and offers exhibits on Civil War topics, education and interpretive programs, tours, lecture and video series, bus tours, and living history activities throughout the year. The Museum and Historic Site also interpret Alexandria, Virginia as an occupied city, the city's role as a vital Union Army crossroads, life within the Defenses of Washington, and the everyday life of Civil War soldiers and civilians. The historic fort provides visitors with an excellent understanding of Civil War-era military engineering. About 90% of the fort's earthwork walls are preserved and the Northwest Bastion has been restored and reconstructed to its original condition."

The City have done a great job of preserving this historical gem whilst making it accessible and user friendly for all sorts of visitors. There are civil war focused lectures and camps, reenactments and soldier led tours. The key parts of the fort are accessible and well interpreted with signage that has just the right amount of information that you can linger with a kid in a stroller, take in the info and not have cries of "Aw Done!" 

There is circular roadway that roams through the forested site - there are a few cars driving slowly, just keep it in mind for the little ones. Mostly the traffic is walkers, strollers and joggers.

 

 

Throughout the site there are picnic areas with tables and grills. They are brilliantly located in the shade of ancient tress that could tell a tale or two. As a City resident you can reserve these picnic areas which accomodate between 25-100 people. $75 gets you 4 hours of grilling and feasting in the forest - brilliant! There are lots of wide open spaces for to kids to burn off energy and plenty of large trees to use as a canopy for a rug and a flask of tea. Yes, folks even when it's 90 in the shade we love a cuppa.

With a play park, an amphitheater, two sets of public restrooms, two parking lots, stunning trees and free admission Fort Ward is definitely a wee gem! We can't wait to go back!