Fort DeRussy: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Rock Creek Park, National Park Service
Garrison S. 2014. Fort DeRussy: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Rock Creek Park, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 600259. NPS National Capital Region. National Capital Regional Office/ CLI Database
The Fort DeRussy is a component landscape of the Civil War Defenses of Washington cultural landscape and Rock Creek Park. A component cultural landscape is a definable physical area within the boundaries of a larger property or historic district. It is located in northwest Washington, DC, near the intersection of Military Road and Oregon Ave NW. The fort is approximately seven miles northwest of the United States Capitol and three miles south of Silver Spring, Maryland. The boundaries of Fort DeRussy, as considered for this cultural landscape inventory, are defined by Military Road to the south, Oregon Avenue NW to the west, the historic Milkhouse Ford Road trail to the north and Rock Creek to the east. Fort DeRussy is listed on the National Register as part of the 1974 Civil War Fort Sites nomination and the 1977 Defenses of Washington revision of the 1974 nomination. The National Register lists Fort DeRussy’s period of significance as 1861‑1865. The fort is listed in the National Register for its military significance. This CLI maintains that the Fort DeRussy cultural landscape is eligible under National Register Criteria A, C and D and recommends adding a second period of significance: 1890‑1922. This second period of significance will recognize Fort DeRussy’s role (as part of Rock Creek Park) in the development in Parks and Recreation in Washington, DC, and its significance as an example of the City Beautiful Movement and the promotion of large urban parks throughout the United States in the last half of the nineteenth century. Fort DeRussy is significant as a contributing landscape within the original Rock Creek Park and was identified as early as 1867 as an important element within the park because of its historic associations and the views available from its high location. This CLI finds that the Fort DeRussy cultural landscape retains integrity from the Civil War‑era period of significance (1861‑1865) as well a second period of significance, (1890‑1922) covering the foundation of Rock Creek Park and the development of the McMillan Plan and is in Good condition. Fort DeRussy has retained many of its landscape characteristics and features and displays the seven aspects that determine integrity as defined by the National Register of Historic Places: location, design, setting, feeling, materials, workmanship, and association.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Garrison, Shannon
- Date of Issue
- 2014-08-25
- Publisher
- NPS National Capital Region
- Units
- NCR , ROCR
- Keywords
- Battles in the North and the South, Expressing Cultural Values, Fort DeRussy, Historic Site, Landscape Architecture, Military, Outdoor Recreation, Recreation/ Culture, Shaping the Political Landscape, Social History, The City Beautiful Movement, The Civil War