Arlington Line

The Arlington Line was a major defensive system made of earthen fortifications, trenches, and gun positions spreading across northern Arlington to guard the nation's capital. The network connected several river crossing points and served as the main defensive perimeter protecting Washington D.C. from the south.

After Virginia seceded in 1861, Federal troops built this fortification system to shield the capital from southern attacks. The installation remained under Union control throughout the conflict and was maintained until the war ended.

Soldiers stationed along the line created a makeshift community with informal gathering spaces where they spent downtime when not on duty. Their daily routines mixed military work with leisure activities that gave structure and meaning to their lives in the field.

Visitors can explore the remains of this extensive fortification system at various locations throughout Arlington today, with some positions better preserved than others. It helps to have a map since the individual sites are spread across a large area.

Although this system required hundreds of thousands of labor hours and years of extensive construction, it never faced direct combat. The expected southern assault never came, making these massive fortifications a defensive structure that never fulfilled its complete strategic purpose.

GPS coordinates: 38.88960,-77.08370

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:42