RSS FeedHistory on Foot: Civil War Era
While enjoying the lovely weather walking around the neighborhood this past weekend, I noticed this plaque. How fascinating and inspiring to think about one of our greatest statesmen and orators working right here in Penn Quarter?! I got curious about what other obscure (at least to me) historical sites might be in the area, so I searched the Web. I discovered a number of interesting memorials, monuments, and historic sites, etc. Here are just a few sites in our neighborhood specific to the Civil War era.
Mary Surratt Boarding House (541 H Street) – A boarding house run by Mary Surratt from 1864-1865 was reportedly the location of secret meetings to plan the kidnapping and assassination of President Lincoln. Surratt was convicted and sentenced to death for her role in the assassination plot and became the first woman executed by the United States federal government.
Clara Barton’s Office of Missing Soldiers (437 7th Street) – Most remembered as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton was instrumental on establishing battlefield nursing during the Civil War, including on the frontlines. In 1865, President Lincoln asked her to be in charge of finding missing soldiers, some of which was done at this location.
Statue of Brigadier General Albert Pike (C Street, between 3rd and 4th) – Albert Pike is the only Confederate officer honored with an outdoor statue in DC (allegedly because of his leadership with the Freemasons and connection to President Andrew Johnson).
Statue of General Winfield Scott Hancock (Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th) – “Hancock the Superb” was a prominent figure in the Union Army, especially at the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the Democratic nominee for President in 1880.
Statue of President Abraham Lincoln (D Street, between 4th and 5th) (among others) – No need to tell you about this guy, but interesting to note that this statue was first erected in 1868, on the third anniversary of Lincoln’s death, and was the first public monument to him (and funded by the citizens of Washington, DC!).
Statue of General George Gordon Meade (Constitution Avenue, between 3rd and 4th) – Best known as the Union General who defeated Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Statue honoring Benjamin Stephenson and the Grand Army of the Republic (Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street) – The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization for military veterans of the Civil War formed by Benjamin Franklin Stephenson in Decatur, Illinois in 1866. The organization was a pioneer in advocating for veterans’ rights, including lobbying Congress to establish pensions for veterans.
Credit: I first found information about the location of the statues on dcmemorials.com and applaud their efforts to catalogue these sites in one place. All other reference material is paraphrased from Wikipedia.
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