Shepherd Parkway
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
A map of Shepherd Parkway from 1865.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Around the advent of the American Civil War, Washington, D.C., was the land used by the union Army as their base of operations. In order to defend themselves from Confederate attacks, 68 fortifications were built in Washington, D.C., including Fort Carroll and Fort Greble. Fort Carroll was originally built to protect the cavalry depot, as well as the Washington Arsenal and Navy Yard, and Fort Greble was built in order to protect the Potomac River. As the Civil War raged on, the forts were maintained by civilians, as well as fugitive slaves that made their way to the north, and by the end of the war, many African Americans that had helped with the war effort stayed in the area of the Forts and the parkway.
After the American Civil War ended, the land around the forts was converted into farmland and distributed to the freed slaves that helped maintain the forts. Around this time, Alexander Robey Shepherd became the second Governor of Washington, and pushed forth efforts to make new improvements to the city, some of which included a sewage system and paved roads. As the United States entered into the 20th century, Senator James McMillian put a plan into action that would create a number of parks in Washington, D.C., including the development of Shepherd Parkway, although this never reached full fruition. Today, Shepherd Parkway is undergoing cleanup efforts put on by several different organizations.