Fort Hunt Park

For the census-designated place, see Fort Hunt, Virginia.
Fort Hunt
Entrance to the park
Fort Hunt Park is located in Virginia
Fort Hunt Park
Fort Hunt Park is located in the United States
Fort Hunt Park
LocationMount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Alexandria, Virginia
Coordinates38°42′53″N 77°03′11″W / 38.71472°N 77.05306°W / 38.71472; -77.05306
Area136 acres (55 ha)
Built1897 (1897)
Built byU.S. Army
Architectural styleEndicott system
WebsiteFort Hunt Park
NRHP reference No.80000353[1]
VLR No.029-0103
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 26, 1980
Designated VLRDecember 18, 1979[2]

Fort Hunt Park is a public park located in Fort Hunt, Fairfax County, Virginia. It is administered by the National Park Service as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The park preserves the remains of the eponymous Fort Hunt, portions of which date to the time of the Spanish–American War. The park was named after Brigadier General Henry Hunt, who served as chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.[3] Remains of several of the fort's original batteries, including Battery Mount Vernon, Battery Robinson, and Battery Sater, and Battery Porter (named after Lt. James Porter, an officer who was killed at Custer's Last Stand at the Little Bighorn.[4]), have been preserved, and may still be visited today. The structures have been stabilized enough that visitors are able to climb on them without difficulty. Besides the batteries, the battery commander's station still stands; in addition, a flagpole has been erected as a memorial to the intelligence officers who served at the fort during World War II.

Fort Hunt Park is open from dawn until dusk, year-round; access is from the George Washington Memorial Parkway or from Fort Hunt Road.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ Person, Gustav. "Local history: Fort Hunt Park". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved Nov 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Elihu Root, Elihu Root collection of United States documents: Ser. A.-F.] General Orders, No. 78 (U.S., 1903), pg. 6)