Fort Lyon

Fort Lyon was a Civil War fortification on Ballenger's Hill south of Hunting Creek in Fairfax County. The installation occupied nine acres and held defensive artillery positions to control the Telegraph Road and railroad routes that ran through the area.

Union forces built the fort in September 1861 after their defeat at Bull Run to strengthen defensive lines around Washington. This structure was part of a larger system designed to protect the nation's capital from Confederate threats.

The fort was named after Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, who died fighting at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri. This naming choice reflects how the Union honored its military leaders during the Civil War.

The site offers views of the surrounding landscape and transportation routes that were key to its defensive role. Wear sturdy footwear since the terrain is hilly and rain can make the ground slippery.

A catastrophic ammunition magazine explosion on June 9, 1863 killed 25 soldiers stationed here. The disaster was serious enough that President Abraham Lincoln visited the site personally to assess the damage and devastation.

Location: Fairfax County

Inception: 1861

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

GPS coordinates: 38.79390,-77.07780

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:53