October 24, 2011

A historic decision was made 150 years ago. On November 1, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed George McClellan as the general-in-chief of the Union armies. McClellan accepted, saying, “I can do it all.”

Though General McClellan fought many of his battles outside of the District of Columbia, you can see different sites that played important roles in the war as a whole. Observe the site of the only Civil War battle to occur in Washington, DC while on the Brightwood Heritage Trail. Learn about where President Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, and more spent their time on the Downtown Heritage Trail.

Spend a day exploring what Jane Freundel Levey, Cultural Tourism DC’s Director of Heritage Programs, has named the top 10 Civil War sites in the District. You’ll see everything from the African American Civil War Memorial to the escape route of John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated Lincoln.

Cultural Tourism DC also has a full list of Civil War sites in Washington, DC on its website. General McClellan said that he could do it all when accepting his position, now you can see it all, and honor the 150th anniversary of the Civil War beginning.