Fort Stanton information panel
See the Civil War Defenses of Washington Park Map web page for an interactive fort location map.
LOCATION
Fort Stanton is now either on or accessed via property owned by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, which is located at a bend in Morris Road SE near the Fort Stanton Recreation Center. The National Park Service information panel for the fort is located in the church parking lot and indicates that the remains of the fort lie across the open field behind the panel. However, the church has posted a NO TRESPASSING sign, which leads me to believe that management got tired of people coming to the church in search of the fort. Because of this, I did not venture farther. The fort might be reached from the ball fields at Fort Stanton Recreation Center, but that would entail walking a long distance through a thick forest.
WHAT TO SEE
Since the NO TRESPASSING sign was posted, I was not able to ascertain whether any fort remnants could be seen. The location of the church is high above the Anacostia River, so this most certainly would have been an optimal location for a fort.
View from the field at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
HISTORY
Fort Stanton was constructed to protect the Washington Navy Yard on the Anacostia River. It was named for Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
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Last updated on April 26, 2020
