Civil War Stuff: Homefront Heroes

Join a ranger to explore what life was like for civilians on the home front during the Civil War. Discover how families and communities adapted as men left to fight, how people managed the challenges of everyday life, and how the war affected their homes, work, and comm......More

Join a ranger to explore what life was like for civilians on the home front during the Civil War. Discover how families and communities adapted as men left to fight, how people managed the challenges of everyday life, and how the war affected their homes, work, and communities. Learn about local militia activity and conflict between Union and Confederate forces, and explore the ways civilians endured and adapted as the war unfolded around them. 

Battleground National Cemetery, 6625 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC

Civil War Stuff: Homefront Heroes

Join a ranger to explore what life was like for civilians on the home front during the Civil War. Discover how families and communities adapted as men left to fight, how people managed the challenges of everyday life, and how the war affected their homes, work, and comm......More

Join a ranger to explore what life was like for civilians on the home front during the Civil War. Discover how families and communities adapted as men left to fight, how people managed the challenges of everyday life, and how the war affected their homes, work, and communities. Learn about local militia activity and conflict between Union and Confederate forces, and explore the ways civilians endured and adapted as the war unfolded around them. 

Rock Creek Nature Center and Planetarium5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington DC

Junior Ranger Discovery Club: Explore, Learn, Protect 

Calling all future Junior Rangers! Get ready to travel back in time, uncover amazing stories, and discover what life was really like during the Civil War! At the Junior Ranger Discovery Club, every meeting is a new adventure. Collect Civil War trading cards, investigate......More

Calling all future Junior Rangers! Get ready to travel back in time, uncover amazing stories, and discover what life was really like during the Civil War! At the Junior Ranger Discovery Club, every meeting is a new adventure. Collect Civil War trading cards, investigate what soldiers and families ate, discover what Civil War uniforms and equipment can tell us about the people who wore them, and try fun, hands-on activities that bring history to life.  Complete challenges, ask questions, make discoveries, and learn how Junior Rangers can help protect the historic places and stories found in our national parks.  Explore the past. Learn something new. Protect our parks. And have fun doing it! Recommended Ages: 8–12 

Battleground National Cemetery 6625 Georgia Ave NWWashington DC

As Seen Through Civilian Eyes: The Battle of Fort Stevens

Join a ranger for a 30-minute, family-friendly walk through Fort Stevens and discover the stories of the civilians that owned the land that the forts were built on. Learn who these civilians were and how the war affected them. What was life like for civilians in Washing......More

Join a ranger for a 30-minute, family-friendly walk through Fort Stevens and discover the stories of the civilians that owned the land that the forts were built on. Learn who these civilians were and how the war affected them. What was life like for civilians in Washington, D.C., during the Civil War? What was it like to have parts of your land occupied by Union soldiers and to have forts built on their land. Join a park ranger for a fascinating journey into the before and after of the only Civil War battle fought in the nation's capital. Explore the fort's defenses, discover how civilians dealt with the aftermath of battle, and hear stories of the civilians who owned the land around Washington during the Civil War and the dramatic events of July 1864.     Perfect for families, history buffs, and Civil War enthusiasts of all ages. 

Civil War Chats: Fort Bunker Hil Hike

 Join a ranger for a guided hike to Fort Bunker Hill, a Civil War site in Washington, DC. As you walk through the wooded landscape of Northeast Washington D.C., you’ll uncover how this fort helped protect the nation’s capital during a time of conflict. Along the way, le......More

 Join a ranger for a guided hike to Fort Bunker Hill, a Civil War site in Washington, DC. As you walk through the wooded landscape of Northeast Washington D.C., you’ll uncover how this fort helped protect the nation’s capital during a time of conflict. Along the way, learn about the soldiers who lived and worked here and the challenges they faced while stationed in the field. At the fort, explore the earthworks that still stand today and imagine what life was like inside this military post. Rangers will share stories of daily routines, military strategy, and the experiences of those who served here. This hike offers a chance to experience history where it happened while connecting with the natural landscape that surrounds it. 

Fort Bunker Hill Park, 14th St and Otis St NE, Washington, DC

Within the Walls of Fort Stevens

What was it like to stand inside Fort Stevens as Confederate forces threatened Washington, D.C.? Join a park ranger for a fascinating journey into the only Civil War battle fought in the nation's capital. Explore the fort's defenses, discover how soldiers prepared for b......More

What was it like to stand inside Fort Stevens as Confederate forces threatened Washington, D.C.? Join a park ranger for a fascinating journey into the only Civil War battle fought in the nation's capital. Explore the fort's defenses, discover how soldiers prepared for battle, and hear stories of the troops who helped protect Washington during the dramatic events of July 1864. Perfect for families, history buffs, and Civil War enthusiasts of all ages. 

Fort Stevens is situated along 13th Street, Quackenbos Street NW, and Rittenhouse Street NW.

Stories in Stone: Monuments at Battleground National Cemetery

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk-through Battleground National Cemetery to explore Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Was......More

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk-through Battleground National Cemetery to explore Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Washington, DC’s past is written in stone. As a part of the Freedom 250 commemoration, this program invites visitors to reflect on sacrifice, citizenship, and the enduring power of public memory.    Please note that parking is limited to public streets.   

6625 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC

Monthly Shepherd Parkway Community Clean-Up

Come cleanup Shepherd Parkway with Ward 8 Woods!Meet at 555 Newcomb St SE at 10:30 AM to receive instructions and supplies (gloves, bags, and trash grabbers will be provided.) Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes, long pants, and bring water. Sign-up here: https://www.vo......More

Come cleanup Shepherd Parkway with Ward 8 Woods!Meet at 555 Newcomb St SE at 10:30 AM to receive instructions and supplies (gloves, bags, and trash grabbers will be provided.) Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes, long pants, and bring water. Sign-up here: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/global-search/shepherd%20parkway 

555 Newcomb St SE Washington, DC 20032

In the Steps of the Fallen: A Living History Walk from Fort Stevens to Battleground National Cemetery

Walk the ground where soldiers fought in the sweltering summer of 1864, when Georgia Avenue, then the Seventh Street Road, became a Civil War front line. Along the way, explore the harsh realities Civil War soldiers faced -- exhaustion, fear, heat, hunger, and the uncer......More

Walk the ground where soldiers fought in the sweltering summer of 1864, when Georgia Avenue, then the Seventh Street Road, became a Civil War front line. Along the way, explore the harsh realities Civil War soldiers faced -- exhaustion, fear, heat, hunger, and the uncertainty of survival. Each participant will carry the story of a real soldier, sealed in an envelope at the start. When we arrive at Battleground National Cemetery, you’ll open it to discover that soldier’s fate, which brings the human cost of the battle powerfully to life. This program is part of the Freedom 250 initiative, connecting the experiences of Civil War soldiers to the evolving story of American freedom. 

Fort Stevens Park is located at 6001 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Stories in Stone: Monuments at Battleground National Cemetery

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk-through Battleground National Cemetery to explore Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Was......More

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided walk-through Battleground National Cemetery to explore Civil War monuments, their symbols, and the stories they were built to preserve. Discover how art, memory, and history come together in this quiet landscape where Washington, DC’s past is written in stone. As a part of the Freedom 250 commemoration, this program invites visitors to reflect on sacrifice, citizenship, and the enduring power of public memory.    Please note that parking is limited to public streets.   

6625 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC