Fort Washington, MD

The fort that gives Fort Washington its name is not the first stronghold built on its Potomac bluff. On August 25, 1814, Capt. Samuel Dyson evacuated and demolished Fort Warburton so that it would not fall to British warships advancing toward Alexandria; the British did not capture it. Work on the replacement Fort Washington followed, and principal construction was completed in 1824. The masonry fort later served in the defense of the capital during the Mexican and Civil wars, while concrete-and-steel Endicott batteries added another layer of coastal defense around the turn of the twentieth century. The 2020 census population of the surrounding unincorporated place in Prince George's County was 24,261. The National Park Service now operates the fort and its grounds as a public landscape as well as a historic site.

The visitor center occupies the commander's house built in the 1820s, ranger-led tours enter the fort, and eight picnic areas can be reserved. An unpaved perimeter trail runs about three miles along the Potomac through forest and wetland, and fishing is another established park activity. M-NCPPC facilities extend community activity beyond the national park. Harmony Hall Regional Center combines the John Addison Concert Hall with art exhibitions, performances, dance, fitness, and visual-arts classes. Fort Washington Forest Community Center supplies a gym, outdoor fields and courts, computer and craft rooms, and Friday teen programming. Southern Regional Aquatic Wellness Center has indoor lap and warm-water pools, while the 46-acre Tucker Road Athletic Complex combines sports fields and courts with an ice rink, fishing area, playground, and fitness trail.