Protecting Archaeology and Heritage in Fort Ward Park

Ten Views of the Same Scene: Protecting Archaeology and Heritage in Fort Ward Park
October 9-10, 2009

The City of Alexandria, VA created Fort Ward Historical Park in 1964, in response to an outpouring of community interest, to protect and restore a Civil War fort constructed by Union troops in 1861 as part of the defense of Washington, D. C.. The park, which includes the Fort Ward Museum, was created to preserve and interpret the history of the 44 acre property and provide a natural recreational area for city residents.

Following the end of the war Fort Ward was abandoned and the property was divided and sold. Portions of the fort area were purchased by African Americans, recently freed from slavery, and used for homes, a school, a church, and grave yards. These residents created an African American community at the fort, also known as “The Hill” which existed until the 1950’s when the city decided to purchase this land for a city park.

The initial vision of the park, which included some recognition and protection of African American graves, began to change in 1965 when city leaders began to emphasize recreational use over historic preservation. City officials advocated that the park, one of Alexandria’s largest, be used for a variety of uses including a greenhouse, maintenance yard, tennis courts, and a outdoor amphitheater. During this same period city leaders also secured recognition of the entire historical park through the National Register of Historic Places.

As Alexandria’s population has grown more and more city leaders have looked to Fort Ward Historical Park as a place to locate a district parks maintenance operation, a solid waste transfer station, and facilities to increase group picnics and special events with amplified music and alcohol. Unfortunately Fort Ward Historical Park has never had a master plan, or archaeological survey, to guide city officials with visitor use and management, interpretation and resource protection. As more recent and diverse proposals for the use of the park moved forward city government acted without following any existing city laws, ordinances and regulations.

New park uses, as well as a proposed “facilities plan”, moved ahead without public notice or civic engagement. In 2006, after significant problems with garbage disposal, crowds, noise, and inappropriate park uses, people from the adjacent neighborhoods joined with others from throughout the city, residents related to people buried in the park, and the members of the Oakland Baptist Church, to urge the city rethink the use, management and future proposals for Fort Ward Historical Park.

Using the principles of good research and good civics, this panel will share insights about the current community-based effort to save the history and heritage of Fort Ward Historical Park. The presenters include: Adrienne Washington, a local historian, resident of the Seminary Hill community, and a descendant of people who are buried in the park; Dave Cavanaugh, a local historian and member of Alexandria’s Archaeological Commission; Tom Fulton, an adjacent landowner, local historian, and member of the City’s Archaeological Commission; and Glenn Eugster, an adjacent landowner and a member of the board of the Seminary Hill Association, Inc.