
The Union Army has come to Arlington and set up camp at Fort C.F. Smith Park. Join us for a day of living history that will include drilling activities, specialized fort tours and more. Come learn about Civil War life in Arlington County and beyond at this free event. Cancelled if raining.

- The Arlington Historical Society will show artifacts and talk about what life was like for some of the thousands of US Army troops stationed in and around Arlington to protect the Capital City from potential Confederate attack.
- Matthew Brady, the renowned Civil War photographer who had a studio in Arlington, will be there to take your picture like he did thousands of US Army troops in Arlington (Re-enacted by AHS President, Peter Vaselopulos).
- And MORE!
Fort C.F. Smith is the best preserved Civil War fort in Arlington and one of the best preserved of all the Washington defenses. Between 1863 and 1865, Fort C. F. Smith was built to bolster defenses of the nation’s capital. It was called the Fort McDowell, but in June 1863, it was named to honor Major General Charles Ferguson Smith who had died in battle.
Drilling Activities
Specialized Fort Tours
Civil War Artifacts!
Re-enactors!
Historians!
Hooray!