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North Highland in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Fort Strong

Historical Site

— Defenses of Washington 1861 - 1865 —

 
 
Fort Strong Marker image. Click for full size.
February 2, 2008
1. Fort Strong Marker
Inscription. Nearby to the north stood Fort Strong, a lunette marking the north end of the Arlington Line constructed in August 1861. It had a perimeter of 318 yards and emplacements for 15 guns.
 
Erected 1965 by Arlington County, Virginia. (Marker Number 9.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and CastlesWar, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Defenses of Washington series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
 
Location. 38° 53.735′ N, 77° 5.32′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in North Highland. It is at the intersection of Langston Boulevard (U.S. 29) and North Adams Street, on the right when traveling south on Langston Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arlington VA 22201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. 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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Compassion (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Federal Savings and Loan Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Arlington Line (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort C.F. Smith (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (approx. 0.4 miles away); Courthouse Neighborhood and Lawyer's Row
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(approx. 0.4 miles away); The Dawson-Bailey House (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
 
Other markers no longer nearby. Fort C.F. Smith (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
 
More about this marker. In the center of the marker is a map of the Washington Defenses, with a red (weathered) arrow pointing out the location of Fort Strong.
 
Additional commentary.
1. Fort Strong Particulars
From "Mr. Lincoln's Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington," by Benjamin Franklin Cooling III and Walton H. Owen II:

Originally called Fort DeKalb, the fort was renamed in honor of General George Crockett Strong, wounded in an assault of Battery Wagner, South Carolina, July 18, 1863. (Strong later died of lockjaw.)

With a perimeter of 318 yards and emplacements for 15 guns, it held the right side line
Fort Strong Marker image. Click for full size.
February 2, 2008
2. Fort Strong Marker
View to the east.
of the Arlington defenses prior to the construction of Fort C.F. Smith. Armament included seven 24-pdr guns, one 24-pdr field howitzer, four 30-pdr Parrott rifles, one 6-pdr gun, and two 10-inch mortars.

Units manning Fort Strong at different times included the 97th New York Infantry, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, 164th Ohio Infantry, 16th Maine Infantry, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry, and 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.
    — Submitted February 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2008. This page has been viewed 3,134 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on February 3, 2008. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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Jun. 10, 2026