Fort Lesley J. McNair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Lesley J. McNair |
|
|---|---|
| Buzzard Point, Washington, D.C. | |
Fort McNair in 2019
|
|
 Fort Lesley J. McNair
|
|
| Coordinates | 38°52′01″N 77°00′58″W / 38.867°N 77.016°W |
| Type | Military base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1791–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Military District of Washington |
| Occupants |
|
Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army base in Washington, D.C.. It sits on a piece of land called Greenleaf Point. This land is shaped like a finger, sticking out where the Potomac River and the Anacostia River meet. The Washington Channel is on one side, and the Anacostia River is on the other.
This fort has been an army base for over 200 years. It's one of the oldest active army posts in the United States. Only the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Carlisle Barracks have been around longer. The fort is named after General Lesley J. McNair. He was a brave leader who died during World War II.
Contents
History of Fort McNair
Early Days of the Fort
The land for this military base was set aside in 1791. It was about 28 acres at the tip of Greenleaf Point. Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant planned for it to be an important defense spot for the new capital city. A small cannon battery was placed there in 1791. By 1795, it became one of the first two official United States arsenals. An arsenal is a place where weapons and ammunition are made and stored.
Defenses were built at the site in 1794. However, these defenses could not stop the British in 1814. During the War of 1812, British forces invaded and burned many government buildings in Washington, D.C. Soldiers at the arsenal quickly moved gunpowder away. They hid the rest in a well. As British soldiers arrived, someone threw a match into the well. A huge explosion happened, killing many British soldiers.
The remaining American soldiers destroyed the arsenal buildings. But the facilities were rebuilt between 1815 and 1821. Eight new buildings were arranged around a central area. The site was then called the Washington Arsenal. More land was added in the 1830s. A seawall and more buildings were also constructed. A prison was built at the arsenal between 1825 and 1831. It had cells and a shoe factory where prisoners could learn a trade. By 1860, the arsenal was using new inventions. It had one of the first steam presses. It also developed the first automatic machine for making percussion caps for guns. The arsenal even experimented with the Hale Rocket. Many civilians worked there, making ammunition. There was also a large military hospital on site.
The Arsenal Explosion
During the American Civil War, many women worked at the Washington Arsenal. They made ammunition for the soldiers. Many of these women needed the work to support their families. They were often Irish immigrants. Women were thought to be good at this work. They had nimble fingers and paid close attention to details. They would roll, pinch, tie, and bundle cartridges with bullets and black powder.
On June 17, 1864, a sad accident happened. Fireworks left in the sun outside a cartridge room caught fire. The fire spread quickly. Twenty-one women died in the explosion and fire. Many of them were wearing flammable hoop skirts. The War Department paid for their funerals. President Abraham Lincoln even attended the joint funeral procession. A monument at Congressional Cemetery remembers these women. In 2014, the Irish foreign minister placed a wreath there. This honored the many Irish victims on the 150th anniversary.
Lincoln's Assassination Trial
After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the people accused of helping were held at the arsenal. They were tried by a military court. Four of them were found guilty and received prison sentences.
One of the buildings at Fort McNair is called Ulysses S. Grant Hall. This is where the military trial of the Lincoln conspirators took place in 1865. Sometimes, the hall is open to the public. Visitors can see the courtroom and learn about the trials. A hospital was built next to the prison in 1857. Wounded Civil War soldiers were treated there. The arsenal closed in 1881. The post was then given to the Quartermaster Corps.
Walter Reed's Research
A general hospital was located at the post from 1898 to 1909. This hospital was a early version of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Major Walter Reed found the marshy areas around the post helpful for his research. He studied malaria there. Reed's work helped discover the cause of yellow fever. Sadly, Reed died at the post in 1902 after an operation. The buildings where he worked are now used as a dispensary and for visiting officers.
20th Century Changes
By 1908, about 90% of the buildings we see today were built or updated. In 1901, the United States Army War College was created. The post, then called Washington Barracks, became the army's main place for training senior officers. These officers learned how to lead large groups of troops. The first classes were held in 1904 in Roosevelt Hall. This famous building was designed by a well-known architecture firm.
The Army Industrial College started at McNair in 1924. It trained officers for important jobs in army supply. It also studied how industries could help the military. This college later became the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. The post was renamed Fort Humphreys in 1935. This name was later given to today's Fort Belvoir. The Army War College changed its name to the Army-Navy Staff College in 1943. It became the National War College in 1946. Both colleges became part of the National Defense University in 1976.
The post was renamed Fort McNair in 1948. This honored Lieutenant General Lesley J. McNair. He was in charge of army ground forces during World War II. His headquarters were at the post. He died in France on July 25, 1944. He was killed by accident when bombs from his own side landed in the wrong place. Fort McNair has been the main office for the Military District of Washington since 1966.
What Fort McNair Does Today
Fort McNair is part of Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall. It is the main office for the Army's Military District of Washington. It is also home to the National Defense University. The official home of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army is also located here.
National Defense University
The National Defense University is a very important place for military education. It was started in 1976. The university includes the National War College and the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. These are both located at Fort McNair. Another school, the Joint Forces Staff College, is in Norfolk, Virginia. These schools work closely together. They share teachers and learning materials. This helps students and teachers learn from each other. It also saves money.
The National War College and the Eisenhower School train military and civilian leaders. They learn about national security plans, making decisions, and how to use resources. The Joint Forces Staff College trains officers for joint duty. This means working with different branches of the military.
In 1990, the Information Resources Management College was formed. It teaches advanced courses on managing information for defense. The National Defense University also has a research center. It's called the Institute for National Strategic Studies. This institute studies important policy issues. It also has a War Gaming and Simulation Center and a publishing house.
The university offers other programs too. The Capstone program is for top military leaders. The International Fellows program brings almost 100 students from 50 different countries. The Reserve Components National Security Course offers military education to senior reserve officers.
Inter-American Defense College
The Inter-American Defense College is a special school for senior officers. These officers come from the 25 member nations of the Inter-American Defense Board. Each country can send up to three officers. These officers must be colonels or have a similar rank. They need to be able to help solve defense problems for the entire region.
Students at the college study world alliances and international situations. They learn about the inter-American system and its role. They also study military strategies. They even do practice exercises for defending the region. The college has been at Fort McNair since 1962.
United States Army Center of Military History
In September 1998, the United States Army Center of Military History moved to Fort McNair. It is now in old, restored buildings that used to be a commissary and stables. This center started in 1943. It gathered historians, translators, and editors. Their job was to record the history of World War II. This led to a huge 79-book series called the "Green Books."
Today, the center has four main parts. The histories division writes histories and helps the Army staff with research. The field program guides historical work at different army posts. It also helps historical teams working on Army operations. This makes sure historical information is complete and correct.
Another part of the center oversees the Army museum system. It also protects old artifacts and artwork. These are important historical treasures for the army. The center's publishing division creates books and makes sure the center's work is available. This includes using things like CD-ROMs and the internet.
Images for kids
-
Arsenal, north front. Interior court - group of officers in foreground
-
View in Arsenal Yard, general view
-
U.S. Arsenal, Washington, D.C., north front, interior court
-
Cannons in 1862 in the Washington Arsenal
-
ArsenaView from the roof of model arsenal
-
Park of Wiard guns at the Arsenal
-
Washington, D.C. Wiard 6-pdr. gun at the Arsenal
-
Wiard 6 lb. guns, Washington arsenal. Excelsior brigade
-
Arsenal Grounds
-
Batteries of field pieces in the Arsenal
.jpg)
