Another of the many beautiful, natural spots in this city.
Battery Kemble is one of the (somewhat less heralded but certainly not ugly) step-sister parks to Rock Creek. In fact, I have never been in it in the 16 years I have lived in DC or even in the 1.5 years I went to American University - which is just a couple blocks away.
Jean and I resumed our kinda regular Sunday nature outings this morning. I was a bit on the fence about going out into the cold in the morning and about interrupting the post-holiday cleaning groove I had gotten into. I am glad we went.
The park is a small gem - nestled in a hilly and quite wealthy part of DC. I am not sure if I was taking more pics of the mansions around the park or the hills and trails and trees of the park.
According to the National Park Service, Battery Kemble was named after Gouveneur Kemble of Cold Springs, New York, former superintendent of West Point Foundry.
During the Civil War, there was an actual gun battery located at an elevation on Ridge Road (now Nebraska Avenue). The battery had two 100-pounder Parrott rifles, to protect the Chain Bridge and shoot into Virginia beyond.
Supposedly, the parapet and gun positions are fairly well-preserved and are still visible today. We did not find them this trip but will return in warmer weather for another look.
Here is some of what we did see...
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