Fort Totten

Fort Totten

Today I rode to Fort Totten Park in Northeast D.C., which is located on Fort Totten Drive (MAP), which is also the name of the neighborhood where the park is located.  It is a Civil War memorial on the site of a Union fort, and is one of the historic sites on the Fort Circle Park National Recreation Trail.  The park is under the management of the National Park Service.

Located Built in 1861 and named after Brigadier General Joseph Gilbert Totten, Chief of the Army Corp of Engineers, Fort Totten commanded the countryside of D.C. during the Civil War. Heavily armed with massive cannons that could hurl 100-pound projectiles several miles, Fort Totten halted the eastward advance of the Confederates inside D.C. during the Battle of Fort Stevens in July of 1864, and resulted in Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s retreat into Virginia, ending the last Confederate invasion of a Northern state during the Civil War.

By the late 1920’s the historic earthenworks inside Fort Totten showed significant signs of erosion which threatened the preservation of the fort. To stabilize the fort vegetation was planted. Today, removal of vegetation from the fort and its grounds is prohibited. The site is in a relatively good state of preservation today, and is maintained as an adjunct to Rock Creek Park.

         

    
[Click on the photos to view the full-size versions]

McKinley Technology High School Observation Tower

McKinley Technology High School Observation Tower

 

As I was riding somewhat aimlessly today in northeast D.C., I saw in the distance what looked to be a lighthouse.  I had never seen it before and didn’t know what it was.  So, naturally, it became my destination.  It turned out to be part of McKinley Technology High School, often referred to as McKinley Tech. It is located at 151 T Street in the Eckington neighborhood (MAP).  After looking into it later I learned that McKinley Tech is a public citywide 9th through 12th grade high school, and was originally an offshoot of Central High School, now known as Cardozo Senior High School.  McKinley Tech was originally founded in 1902, a year after William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was assassinated, and was named after him. The school has been located in the 100 block of T Street Northeast in Eckington since 1928.  

 

As I explored the lighthouse further it appeared to be adjacent to one of the smaller buildings on this high school’s sprawling campus.  If not for the windows, it looked like it could be a smokestack.  But it wasn’t.  My guess is that it’s an observation tower because the view toward downtown D.C. from the hilltop on which the school is located affords an incredible view.  In fact, because of its hilltop location, the school’s football field was a secret emergency landing area for President Lyndon Johnson in the event of a national emergency or attack on the United States.  But despite my best guess, I’m not sure why it was built or what the purpose of the towering structure was because I have been unable to find information about it.  I will keep looking. But in the meantime, if you have any information about it please let me know in the comment section below.