TranslateFort Ward Museum & Historic Site
Fort Ward Museum interprets the site's history and offers exhibits on Civil War topics, education and interpretive programs, tours, lecture and video series, bus tours, and living history activities throughout the year. The Museum and Historic Site also interpret Alexandria, Virginia as an occupied city, the city's role as a vital Union Army crossroads, life within the Defenses of Washington, and the everyday life of Civil War soldiers and civilians.
The historic fort provides visitors with an excellent understanding of Civil War-era military engineering. About 90% of the fort's earthwork walls are preserved and the Northwest Bastion has been restored and reconstructed to its original condition.
Download a brochure: Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site: Bastions of Freedom
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The History of Fort Ward and Civil War Alexandria
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Contact the Museum
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
4301 West Braddock Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22304
Phone: 703.746.4848
Mission Statement
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site actively preserves and interprets this historic landmark and its collections according to professional museum standards in order to foster a greater appreciation and understanding of its history and significance by City residents and the general public.
The Museum interprets the Civil War Defenses of Washington, D.C., Fort Ward’s history and preservation, wartime Alexandria, and soldier and civilian life during the Civil War. The Museum collects, preserves and interprets artifacts related to these themes that are featured in exhibits, used for research purposes, and are the context for a variety of public programs sponsored by the Museum, including tours, lectures and living history events. To meet its educational goals, the Museum also operates a Civil War research library with specialized resources on the Defenses of Washington; maintains an informative web site; works with local school systems to enhance classroom study of Civil War history, including the distribution of an award-winning outreach program; and collaborates with other agencies that preserve local Civil War forts to promote the history of these sites and to foster Civil War heritage tourism.
Programs and Events
Programs & Events at Fort Ward Museum
Throughout the year Civil War lectures, changing exhibits, preservation workshops, bus tours and living history events encourage learning about this important period in American history. Check the calendar for a full schedule of upcoming events.
Educational Resources
Educational Resources at Fort Ward
Students, adults, groups and YOU can learn about this historic site and the Civil War in general from a variety of educational programs sponsored by Fort Ward Museum.
Collections
Collections at Fort Ward Museum
Fort Ward Museum features a collection of over 2,000 objects from the Civil War period, primarily of Union origin, in conjunction with the Federal history of the site. Also included are a smaller number of Confederate objects, most pertaining to the war in Virginia, and items which interpret life in the South during wartime.
Friends of Fort Ward
Founded in 1982, the Friends of Fort Ward is dedicated to preserving the historic fort and museum collections and encouraging public recognition and use of this unique Civil War site.
Volunteering at Fort Ward
Volunteers at Fort Ward Museum greet visitors, answer questions about the site, assist with tours, and help with living history events.
For Civil War Reenectors
Civil War Reenactors Information
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site enlists the talents and knowledge of reenactors to offer numerous living history programs interpreting Civil War soldier and civilian life. Here are the resources you need to participate in an event.