Fort Washington in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Capital View

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2021

1. Capital View Marker

Inscription. Fort Foote held a commanding view from Rozier's Bluff with Washington, DC on the horizon and the Potomac River below. An armed sentry at the fort kept a watchful eye on the heavy traffic of ships passing by. Crews shouted as they loaded supplies onto the wharf below. The river was the main way for the Union Army to access its fort. Together, Fort Foote and Battery Rodgers defended the southern approach to the Union capital from enemy ships.

“More than a thousand acres had been cleared of timber to give a clear sweep from the fort, and still more must be cut. It seemed not a little strange that the Capital of the United States should have been located in such a wilderness,”
Alfred Seelye Roe, Union soldier and historian

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil.

Location. 38° 46.096′ N, 77° 1.778′ W. Marker is in Fort Washington, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It can be reached from Fort Foote Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Washington MD 20744, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Load. Ready. Fire! (within shouting distance of this marker); Engineering Evolution (within shouting distance of this marker); Ironclad Killer (about 300 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); Another Shot (about 400 feet away); Reporting for Duty (about 500 feet away); New Forts for a New War (about 500 feet away); Welcome To Fort Foote (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Fine Improvable Marsh (approx. 0.9 miles away in Virginia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Washington.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Defenses of Washington (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); 15-inch Rodman Smoothbore (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named 15-inch Rodman Smoothbore (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Northwest Bastion (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); King's Depression Carriage (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Fort Foote (was about 400 feet away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it);

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2021

2. Capital View Marker

a different marker also named Fort Foote (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

Viewing the Capital image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2021

3. Viewing the Capital

Close-up of image on marker.

Alexandria and Battery Rodgers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2021

4. Alexandria and Battery Rodgers

Close-up of image on marker.

Washington, DC image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2021

5. Washington, DC

“Distances are exaggerated for interpretive purposes.”Close-up of image on marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 1, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.