Kingman Island

Kingman Island is an artificial island in the Anacostia River featuring tidal marshes, a lake, and interconnected pathways for visitors to explore. The landscape includes restored wetland areas and open meadows supporting diverse plant and animal life.

The island was created in 1916 by the US Army Corps of Engineers as a result of dredging operations on the Anacostia River. Later restoration efforts transformed it from industrial land into a protected natural area for wildlife and wetland ecology.

This island serves as a place where people observe wildlife and learn about wetland ecology through interpretive programs and trails. The site emphasizes connection between visitors and the natural world that depends on these restored habitats.

The island is accessible via a renovated pedestrian bridge near the RFK Stadium area and offers multiple walking trails of varying difficulty. Plan your visit during spring and fall when weather conditions are most comfortable for outdoor exploration.

The southern section protects vernal pools that fill seasonally with water, creating crucial habitat for specialized amphibians found nowhere else in the city. These temporary wetlands support a breeding cycle that depends on the natural flood pattern of the Anacostia River.