1894 Map of Mt. Vernon

About this map

The Potomac River corridor south of Washington is captured here as it appeared in the late 19th century, revealing a landscape of strategic forts and nascent suburbs. This survey, conducted shortly after the Civil War era, illustrates the significant military footprint surrounding the capital with sites like Fort Myer, Fort Foote, and the Arlington National Cemetery. The map documents a period before the massive 20th-century expansion of the federal government, showing Alexandria as a distinct riverfront center and Fairfax as a small interior crossroads. Transportation patterns of the day are defined by the Southern R. R. and W. & O. D. R. R., while historic river crossings like Chain Bridge and the Shepherd Ferry remained vital. Farther south, the Fort Humphreys Military Reservation and Pohick Church anchor a more rural landscape of creek-fed peninsulas and landings.