Benjamin Harrison Society

As director of the Benjamin Harrison Society in partnership with the Washington, D.C. War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission  Archaeological Project in Washington, D.C.  Our lead archaeologist works at the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of National History, Anthropology Department,  is currently leading an excavation at the War of 1812 and/or the Civil War Heritage site in Washington, D.C.   The project's mission is to investigate the prehistory of the region, and the Battle of Bladensburg  where historical maps indicates that Commodore Joshua Barney stood on a hill in Washington, D.C. with his militia where the men fought a brave fight to prevent the British from Burning Washington.  The battle site has until now been untouched by modern archaeology.    

The team's progress is being documented by a daily blog written and posted by the Project Manager, Chairman of the Washington, D.C. War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission and President General of the National Society & Friends Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail.   Her posts, which began on August 2009 when students from the District of Columbia conducted studies of the battlefield  terrain,  will continue through the end of the excavation project. The blog has so far chronicled the discovery of what appears to be a farming  area,  as well as evidence of a gate. 

The archaeological team is focusing on the battlefield, once used as a grape orchard and farm during the 18^the and 19^the Centuries .   General George Washington also traveled along Bladensburg Road, the old Route 1  during the American Revolutionary War after visiting Dr. Magruder at the Magruder House in Bladensburg, Md when returning to Virginia.

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