Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.

US Marine Corps base in Washington, D.C.

Marine Barracks Washington

Southeast Washington, D.C. in United States

US Marines pass in review during a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington during May 2013

Marine Barracks

Location in the United States

Coordinates| 38°52′49″N 76°59′38″W﻿ / ﻿38.88039°N 76.99386°W﻿ / 38.88039; -76.99386Coordinates: 38°52′49″N 76°59′38″W﻿ / ﻿38.88039°N 76.99386°W﻿ / 38.88039; -76.99386
Type| Marine Corps barracks
Site information
Owner| Department of Defense
Operator| US Marine Corps
Controlled by|

* Commandant of the Marine Corps (operationally)
* Marine Corps Installations Command (administratively)

Open to
the public| During parades and ceremonies
Condition| Operational
Website| Official website
Site history
Built| 1801 (1801)
In use| 1801 – present
Battles/wars|

* War of 1812
* Burning of Washington

Garrison information
Current
commander| Colonel Robert A.Sucher/ Command Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Dorsey
Past
commanders|

* Charles Heywood
* James Carson Breckinridge
* Dennis Hejlik

Occupants| Commandant of the Marine Corps

U.S. Marine Corps Barracks and Commandant's House

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

U.S. National Historic Landmark District

Area| 6 acres (2.4 ha)
Architect| George Hadfield ()
Hornblower & Marshall (1907 Barracks)
NRHP reference No.| 72001435
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| December 27, 1972
Designated NHLD| May 11, 1976

Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. is located at the corner of 8th and I Streets, Southeast in Washington, D.C. Established in 1801, it is a National Historic Landmark, the oldest post in the United States Marine Corps, the official residence of the Commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806, and the main ceremonial grounds of the Corps. It is home to the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps ("The Commandant's Own") and the U.S. Marine Band ("The President's Own"). Barracks Marines conduct ceremonial missions in and around the National Capital Region as well as abroad. They also provide security at designated locations around Washington, D.C. as necessary, and Barracks officers are part of the White House Social Aide Program.

Marine Barracks Washington and the Historic Home of the Commandants were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. A 6-acre (2.4 ha) property with eight contributing buildings was included in the listing.[1][2] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.[3]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Units
* 3 Duties
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## History[edit]

The buildings at the Marine Barracks are some of the oldest in Washington, D.C.[4] In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson and Lieutenant Colonel William Ward Burrows, the commandant of the Marine Corps, rode horses about the new capital to find a place suitable for the Marines near the Washington Navy Yard.[5] They chose a location within marching distance of both the Navy Yard and the Capitol[6] and hired architect George Hadfield to design the barracks and the Commandant's House.

The Final Stand at Bladensburg, Maryland, 24 August 1814

When the British burned Washington during the War of 1812, they also captured the Marine barracks. It is traditionally held within the Marine Corps that, out of respect for the brave showing of the Marines at the Battle of Bladensburg, the British refrained from burning the barracks and the Commandant's House.[5] Though neither Admiral George Cockburn nor General Robert Ross mentioned the Marines specifically in their conversation with the wounded Commodore Joshua Barney, it is now widely acknowledged that the compliment extends towards both Barney's 300 Navy flotilla men and the 103 Marines present.

The Marines had brought three 12-pounder artillery pieces to act as the core of Barney's line. The Flotilla would not have held their ground had it not been for the cannon dispensing grape and canister volleys into the 85th Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry). This is supported by the fact that Baltimore artillery (also covering the bridge at the Washington Turnpike) on the Marines' right flank was only firing round shot in an attempt to stop Lieutenant General William Thornton from crossing the bridge. Round shot, in general, is ineffective against dispersed troops such as the light infantry of the 85th.

This account of events still survives:

> The people of the flotilla, under the orders of Captain Barney and the Marines, were justly applauded for their excellent conduct on this occasion. No troops could have stood better; and the fire of both artillery and musketry has been described as to the last degree severe. Captain Barney himself, and Captain Miller, of the Marine Corps, in particular, gained much additional reputation; and their conspicuous gallantry caused a deep and general regret that their efforts could not have been sustained by the rest of the army.

The "last stand" of the sailors and Marines is to this day immortalized by Colonel Charles Waterhouse's painting of Captain Miller's Marines manning two of the three 12-pound Gribeuaval type cannon. The three cannon were hauled from the Marine barracks onto the battlefield to cover a strategic bridgehead. This event has also been marked by sculptor Joanna Blake of Cottage City in her "Undaunted in Battle." It shows a wounded Barney being helped by a Marine and flanked by a sailor presumably representing a member of the flotilla. The background shows a wheeled cannon, likely one of the three hauled to the battlefield by the Marines.

Marine battalion in front of Commandant's House at the Marine Barracks in 1864

Square 927, now the block surrounded by 8th & I,[7] and 9th & G Streets S.E., was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and was then designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1976.[8] 8th and I has been the home of the Silent Drill Platoon and the Marine Band since the barracks' establishment in 1801 and the residence of the commandant since 1806 when the Commandant's House was completed. The Commandant's House is the only original building left in the complex, the remainder having been rebuilt in 1900 and 1907,[6] to designs by architects Hornblower & Marshall.[2] The Marine Corps Institute moved to the barracks from its previous home at Marine Barracks Quantico in 1920. The Drum and Bugle Corps has been based at the barracks since its formation in 1934.

The barracks complex is one of the oldest government buildings in continuous use in Washington, D.C., though some sources conflict on whether the White House is a year older.[5] While traditionally known as the "oldest post in the Corps", Marines did serve at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston a year earlier, though they did not have a permanent detachment until 1805 nor a barracks until 1810, and it was vacated in 1974.[6] The Tun Tavern is considered the birthplace of the Corps, having been used for one of the first Continental Marines' recruiting drives in 1775,[9] though it is disputed if it occurred before one at Samuel Nicholas' family tavern, the Conestoga Waggon [sic].[10][11]

## Units[edit]

* The Historic Home of the Commandants

Headquarters and Service Company
* Marine Corps Enlisted Aide Program
* Ceremonial Companies A & B
* The United States Marine Corps Color Guard - part of Company A
* Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon \- part of Company A
* Marine Corps Body Bearers - part of Company B
* Guard Company
* Marines serving the White House Communications Agency
* Security Company
* United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps
* United States Marine Band
* Marines of the United States Naval Academy

## Duties[edit]

* Funeral escort for Marines and dignitaries.
* Ceremonial honor guard for state functions.
* Security forces for Camp David and the White House Communications Agency.
* Parades:
* Friday Evening Parade
* Tuesday Sunset Parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial
* Training to maintain MOS proficiency and emergency preparedness.

The United States Marine Band at the Friday Evening Parade.

The Marines assigned to the D.C. barracks must meet strict height, weight, and background check standards, since they perform in ceremonial parades, funerals, and other ceremonies for presidential and other national dignitaries. During the summer months, a sunset parade is held every Tuesday evening at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn, Virginia near Arlington National Cemetery. In addition, an evening parade takes place at the Barracks every Friday evening from late spring until the end of summer. Since 2018, the sunset parade from the Barracks is broadcast on Facebook Live on select dates via the official FB page of the US Marine Corps, weather conditions permitting.

## See also[edit]

* Latrobe Gate, the oldest continuously manned Marine sentry post in the United States
* List of United States Marine Corps installations
* List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C.
* Reportedly haunted locations in Washington, D.C.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. ^ a b George R. Adams; Ralph Christian (November 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination: U.S. Marine Corps Barracks and Commandant's House". National Park Service. Retrieved January 24, 2022. With accompanying five photos from 1968-75
3. ^ "United States Marine Corps Barrack and Commandant'S House". National Historic Landmark. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
4. ^ "Barracks History". Marine Barracks Washington, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
5. ^ a b c Dorr, Robert F.; Borch, Fred L. (2009-04-13). "Marine Barracks embodies rich history of the Corps". The Lore of the Corps. Marine Corps Times. p. 38. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
6. ^ a b c Sanborn, James K. (April 26, 2010). "The Corps' Oldest Posts". Marine Corps Times. p. 3.
7. ^ "Marine Barracks 8th & I". Marine Barracks Washington, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
8. ^ "United States Marine Corps Barrack and Commandant's House". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
9. ^ Chenoweth, Col H. Avery; Nihart, Col Brooke (2005). Semper Fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines. New York: Main Street. ISBN 1-4027-3099-3.
10. ^ Hoffman, Jon T. (2002). USMC: A Complete History. New York City, New York: Universe Publishing.
11. ^ Simmons, Edwin Howard (2003). The United States Marines: A History, 4th Edition. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-790-5.

* "Marine Barracks Washington website". Retrieved 2007-03-31.
* Listing at the National Park Service

## External links[edit]

* Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. official website
* GlobalSecurity Article on Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
* Marine Barracks Washington Documentary produced by WETA-TV

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

* v
* t
* e

United States Marine Corps

Leadership|

* Secretary of the Navy
* Under Secretary of the Navy
* Commandant of the Marine Corps
* Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
* Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
* Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
* Marine Corps four-star generals
* Marine Corps three-star generals
* 1942–1959
* 2000–2009
* 2010–present

| US Congress|

* House Armed Services Committee
* Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee
* Senate Armed Services Committee
* Seapower subcommittee

|

Major
commands|

* Organization of the Marine Corps
* Headquarters Marine Corps
* Marine Forces Command
* II Marine Expeditionary Force
* Marine Forces Pacific
* I Marine Expeditionary Force
* III Marine Expeditionary Force
* Marine Forces Reserve
* Fleet Marine Force
* Atlantic
* Pacific
* Marine Corps Combat Development Command
* Training & Education Command (TECOM)
* United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
* Marine Corps Systems Command

Auxiliary|

* Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary

Structure|

* Marine Air-Ground Task Force
* Bases
* Battalions
* Regiments
* Brigades
* Divisions
* MEF/Corps
* Marine aviation
* Marine expeditionary unit
* Special Operations
* Marine Raiders
* Marine Raider Regiment
* Recon
* Force
* Division

Personnel
and training|

| Personnel|

Rank insignia
MOS
Notable Marines
Historical Marines
Marine Astronauts
Criminal Investigation Division
Judge Advocate Division
Chaplain of the Marine Corps
Associated organizations

|

Training|

Recruit Training
School of Infantry
Officer Candidates School
The Basic School
Martial Arts Program

Uniforms
and equipment|

* Uniforms
* Awards
* Badges
* Weapons
* Vehicles and aircraft
* Individual equipment

History
and traditions|

* History
* Culture
* Acronyms and terms
* Birthday
* Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps
* Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
* Flag
* Marine Band
* Drum and Bugle Corps
* Marine One
* Silent Drill Platoon
* White House Sentries
* Service Numbers
* Marine Corps War Memorial
* Marine Detachments
* "Marines' Hymn"
* Oorah
* National Museum
* Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
* Rifleman's Creed
* Semper Fidelis
* march
* History of Hispanics in the USMC
* History of women in the USMC
* Women's Reserve
* Honorary Marine
* Toys for Tots
* Gung ho

* Category

* v
* t
* e

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Topics|

* Architectural style categories
* Contributing property
* Historic district
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* Keeper of the Register
* National Park Service
* Property types

Lists by state|

* List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state:
* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Lists by insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Minor Outlying Islands
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* Virgin Islands

Lists by associated state|

* Federated States of Micronesia
* Marshall Islands
* Palau

Other areas|

* District of Columbia
* Morocco

Related|

* National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
* Historic Preservation Fund
* List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places
* University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

* National Register of Historic Places portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Current military installations in Washington, D.C.

Army|

| Fort|

* McNair

|

Marines|

| Barracks|

* Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.

|

Navy|

| Facilities|

* Naval Support Facility Anacostia

|

Observatory|

* Naval Observatory

Yard|

* Washington Navy Yard

Other|

* Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling
* Naval Research Laboratory

Air Force|

| Field|

* Bolling

|

Coast Guard|

| Station|

* Coast Guard Station Washington, D.C.

|

Authority control

General|

* VIAF
* 1
* WorldCat

National libraries|

* United States

*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template