Battery Cameron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battery Cameron |
|
|---|---|
| Part of Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C. | |
| District of Columbia Near Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) in United States |
|
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Union Army |
Battery Cameron was a special defense spot for the Union Army during the Civil War. It was part of a big chain of forts and batteries. These defenses protected Washington, D.C. during the war. People sometimes called this defense system the "Fort Circle".
Battery Cameron was built on top of a hill. This hill is now where Foxhall Road meets Whitehaven Parkway, NW. The battery had two large 100-pound Parrott rifle cannons. These cannons were set up to guard the Aqueduct Bridge. They could also protect the area of Virginia beyond the bridge.
Today, the land where Battery Cameron once stood is a reservoir. The Army Corps of Engineers manages this property. Nearby are the German Embassy and George Washington University's Mount Vernon Campus.
The First High Service Reservoir
Underneath the old Battery Cameron site is a water facility. It is run by the DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA). This facility is called the "First High Service Reservoir."
For many people living nearby, this reservoir is very important. It is the first place where clean drinking water is pumped. The water comes here after being treated at the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant. The First High Service Reservoir was built in 1924. It can hold about 14.5 million US gallons (54,888 cubic meters) of water.
