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Air transportation buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic PlacesAmerican Civil War forts in VirginiaBuildings and structures in Arlington County, VirginiaCivil War Defenses of Washington, D.C.

Fort Myer

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Orville Wright flying the Wright Model A airplane at Fort Myer, Virginia in 1908.

What is Fort Myer?

Fort Myer is an important place for the U.S. Army. It is located in Arlington County, Virginia, right next to Arlington National Cemetery and across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.. This area has been special for over 150 years.

A Long History

Fort Myer started during the American Civil War. Two smaller forts, named Fort Cass and Fort Whipple, were built to help protect the area. In 1881, the place was renamed Fort Myer to honor a brave general named Albert J. Myer. Over time, Fort Myer became known for its work with signals, horses, and music. The United States Army Band calls this place home.

Fun and Firsts

Fort Myer has been part of many “firsts.” In 1908, Orville Wright, one of the first people to fly an airplane, landed his plane there. The National Weather Service also began its work at Fort Myer in 1870. In 2005, Fort Myer joined with a nearby Marine Corps base to become Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall. Today, it is still an important place for both the Army and the Marines.

Images

Historical marker for Fort Cass, one of the forts built to defend Washington, D.C. during the Civil War.
A historical marker about Fort Whipple, a Civil War fort built in 1863 to defend Washington, D.C.
Historical map showing the proposed Lee Boulevard (now Arlington Boulevard) in Fort Myer Reservation from 1929.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Fort Myer, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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