Fort Totten (Washington, D.C.)

Fort Totten
Neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Fort Totten within the District of Columbia
Coordinates: 38°56′49″N 77°00′15″W / 38.947056°N 77.004139°W / 38.947056; -77.004139Coordinates: 38°56′49″N 77°00′15″W / 38.947056°N 77.004139°W / 38.947056; -77.004139
Country	United States
District	Washington, D.C.
Ward	Ward 5
Government
• Councilmember	Kenyan McDuffie

Fort Totten is a neighborhood located in Ward 5 of Northeast Washington, D.C. Fort Totten is contained between Riggs Rd NE to the north, Bates Rd NE, Allison Street NE, and the southern end of Fort Totten Park to the south, the Washington Metropolitan Area Red Line train tracks to the east, and North Capitol Street NW to the west. The Washington Metropolitan Green Line train tracks also goes through the Fort Totten neighborhood through an underground tunnel that goes through Fort Totten Park when traveling between the Fort Totten and Georgia Avenue - Petworth Metro Stations. Fort Totten borders the adjacent neighborhoods of Riggs Park (north and northeast), Brightwood Park (west), North Michigan Park and Michigan Park (southeast), Pleasant Hill (south), and Petworth (southwest). Fort Totten is within very close proximity to the Catholic University of America, Providence Hospital, Armed Forces Retirement Home, Rock Creek Cemetery, President Lincoln's Cottage, and Soldiers Home Cemetery. The Fort Totten neighborhood of Washington, D.C. is named after a Civil War-era fort built by General Joseph Gilbert Totten, the Chief Engineer of the antebellum United States Army. Residents of Fort Totten not only have access to Fort Totten Park, but also to the Washington Metropolitan Branch Trail as well which runs all the way from the Silver Spring Metro Station to the Washington D.C. Union Station in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Residents who live in the Fort Totten neighborhood have access to the Fort Totten Metro Station, which has primarily been served by the Washington Metropolitan Area Red Line since the station first opened on February 6, 1978, as well as the Washington Metropolitan Area Green Line which has been serving the station since December 11, 1993, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Yellow Line, which has been serving the station since May, 2006. In addition to these Metrorail Lines, residents of Fort Totten are also served by many Metrobus routes as well.

Civil War fort

The neighborhood takes its name from the Civil War fort located at the top of the hill. It was built in 1861 and completed in 1863 to provide protection to the capital during the civil war. The fort is named for Joseph Gilbert Totten, a general in the War of 1812.

Modern day park

The earthworks of the main fort are still clearly visible today, including the surrounding ditch, ramparts, and the walls of the two magazines within the fort. The smaller Totten Battery, which lies 1000 feet to the North, and the connecting rifle trenches can be easily seen as well. The park itself is home to a number of picnic benches as well as a Civil War centennial plaque marking the main entrance to the remains of the fort.

References