Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site Interpretive Plan
The goal of this project is to expand interpretation in Fort Ward Park to include the full range of its history, especially including the African American experience and the post-Civil War Fort community. Fort Ward's Civil War history will remain a core theme, but new elements will explore the legacy of that pivotal era.
The City of Alexandria has retained the firm of Design Minds of Fairfax, Virginia to prepare a Master Interpretive Plan for Fort Ward Park. The public is invited to attend meetings of the Fort Ward Interpretive Committee which are announced on the Calendar of Events for the City and the Office of Historic Alexandria.
- Fort Ward Final Concept Design, April 23, 2019
- Fort Ward Interpretive Text, April 23, 2019
- Fort Ward Interpretive Mobile Web Design, April 23, 2019
- Fort Ward Draft Interpretive Plan, September 13, 2018
- Fort Ward Draft Design Package, September 13, 2018
Fort Ward Area Management Plan
The City of Alexandria's Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group will advise City staff on Fort Ward Park and Museum use and management. The ten members of the group were appointed by the City Manager in October 2009 based on their commitment to a balanced, multi-use park and historic site in the City, and are representative of the diversity of interests and uses of the park and museum site.
In May 2015 City Council passed a resolution to establish an Ad Hoc Fort Ward Management Plan Implementation Monitoring Group (Monitoring Group). The Monitoring Group met from September 2015 to July 2017. City Staff will continue community engagement and encourages input with the Management Plan as well as the Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site Interpretive Planning project.
For more information, see the Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Plan Implementation Monitoring Group.
- Final Full Report (549 pages)
- Section I Summary Report
- Section II - Chapters 1-5
- Section II - Best Practices
- Section II - Implementation
- Section II - Plates (Maps)
- Section II - Earthworks
- Section II - Bibliography
- Appendix - Drainage
- Appendix - OHA
- Appendix - History
- Appendix - MOU
- Approved Ground Disturbance Public Notification Protocol
Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Interagency Activity
In accordance with the Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Plan and an interdepartmental MOU adopted in 2018, representatives from City departments that are responsible for managing Park operations have met quarterly to discuss issues and coordinate projects related to management of the Park’s grounds, facilities and historic areas. These departments are: Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA); the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA); Department of General Services (DGS); and Transportation and Environmental Services (TES).
The Fort: A Post-Civil War African American Community
After the Civil War, a neighborhood known as The Fort grew up around Fort Ward, one of the Union forts built as part of the Defenses of Washington. But in the 1950s and 1960s, the City moved the residents out of the area to establish the Fort Ward Park and Museum. The City of Alexandria is working on an Interpretive Plan for Fort Ward Park to expand interpretation to include the full range of its history, especially including the African American experience and the post-Civil War Fort community.
Learn about the archaeology and history of The Fort, walk the Fort Heritage Trail or see the trail signs online, read a brochure, read oral history transcriptions from people who lived at The Fort.