Fort Jackson

Fort Jackson stands near the Potomac River as one of three fortifications constructed to protect the Long Bridge connecting Virginia to Washington DC.

Established in 1861, Fort Jackson operated primarily as an inspection point for bridge traffic rather than a heavily armed military installation during the Civil War.

The fort represents early Union military engineering and defensive strategy, demonstrating the methods used to protect the capital during the American Civil War.

The National Park Service maintains the fort site, which forms part of a larger network of Civil War defensive structures around Washington DC.

This fortification, the smallest of three forts guarding the Long Bridge, served more as a checkpoint than a combat position despite its military designation.

Location: Arlington County

Inception: 1861

Part of: Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C.

GPS coordinates: 38.87090,-77.04180

Latest update: March 7, 2025 06:00