Protecting America's Legacy

Fort Hunt, part of a national park known as the George Washington Memorial Parkway, reflects the history of Virginia and the nation. Places along the Parkway represent outstanding examples of cultural landscapes; historical, architectural, and archeological sites; and natural areas.<br><br><b>Preservation at Fort Hunt</b><br>The National Park Service preserves and protects the resources and related stories of Fort Hunt Park in the following ways:<br>1. Removing vegetation to prevent root systems from weakening the concrete structure of the gun batteries;<br>2. Adding steel-mesh doors to batteries to improve air circulation, prevent vandalism, and promote public safety;<br>3. Preserving cultural landscapes, including the tree-lined historic roadbed in front of the Mount Vernon Battery.<br><br><b>Battery Robinson</b><br>During the Spanish-American War, Fort Hunt worked in tandem with Fort Washington (MD) to protect Washington, D.C. from enemy attack along the Potomac River. The battery in front of you held a single gun whose fire would force ships to maneuver into the range of larger, more powerful guns. However, the guns at Fort Hunt were never fired in wartime action.<br><br><b>Completed:</b> August 1902<br><b>Dimensions:</b> 55 feet wide x 65 feet deep x 13.5 feet high<br><b>Artillery:</b> One 5-inch rapid-fire gun<br><b>Range:</b> 7 miles<br>---------------<br>Be safe and help us protect our cultural heritage<br>• Stay on designated paths. Please watch your step. Historic surfaces are uneven and may be damp or slippery. Use handrails when climbing stairs.<br><br>• Climbing on or attempting to access restricted areas of historic structures is unsafe and may damage park resources.<br><br>• It is illegal to remove anything from Fort Hunt Park. Everything is protected so you and future generations may enjoy these historic resources.