Visiting the Grounds of the Old Soldiers Home (Armed Forces Retirement Home)
Founded in 1851 as the Old Soldiers Home, the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington DC sits on 272 acres in the Petworth neighborhood, much of it green space. People often look into the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home and wonder how they can enjoy the park-like setting.
I have been walking the grounds of the Old Soldiers Home for the past two years, and living in the neighborhood for over a decade, I know the different ways to get access to the grounds, and I’ll share them with you. Some are more difficult than others.
A note: although the formal name is the Armed Forces Retirement Home – Washington, it is still commonly referred to as the Old Soldiers Home. I tend to call it the Old Soldiers Home, and the terms are interchangeable for this guide.
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Visit President Lincoln’s Cottage
The grounds of the Old Soldier’s Home was once the country estate of banker George W. Riggs (of Riggs Bank). When the land was purchased for the Old Soldiers Home, the summer cottage became the summer retreat of multiple presidents, including President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln spent about a quarter of his presidency at the cottage.
Today, you can visit President Lincoln’s Cottage on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Most people go for the guided tour of the cottage itself. However, there’s another add-on that will let you explore the grounds a bit.
If you do the self-guided garden tour at President Lincoln’s Cottage, you will be able to walk along the grounds immediately around the cottage as well as the road to the Winfield Scott Statue and into the cemetery.
The roadway to the Winfield Scott statue is one of my favorites. You get to view the old houses from the mid-1800s, and it’s the part of the grounds that feels like you are far away from the city. At the statute, you’ll find a lovely grove of crape myrtles that bloom mid-summer. From the roadway, you can see a bit of the golf course and grounds below the hill, but you won’t be able to go any further.
If you go in the morning or around the end of the day, you’re very likely to see some of the wildlife–namely, the deer that live on the grounds.
Attend a Special Event
Throughout the year, the Friends of the Soldiers Home and President Lincoln’s Cottage put on community events and fundraisers. Additionally, some groups will host events at the cottage or on the grounds.
Public events hosted by Friends of the Soldiers Home are mainly around patriotic holidays like the 4th of July. They are family-friendly events that have activities and usually food trucks, and bring in people from the neighborhood as well as residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
These events tend to be on the lower part of the grounds, near the Randolph Street gate and the golf course. If they are, you will enter through the Randolph Street gate instead of the main gate on Upshur Street. You’re not able to explore the grounds and need to stay in the prescribed area.
Events hosted by or at President Lincoln’s Cottage are centered around the cottage, and you’ll be restricted to that area. One of the largest events is the Bluegrass and Bourbon festival, held over a weekend in May each year. It is the only bluegrass festival in Washington DC now (since Kingman Island Festival no longer is put on), and is a lovely setting.
Lincoln’s Cottage and its grounds can also be rented out for private events. I’ve been for a DC Emancipation Day celebration, and weddings are also held at the cottage. For these, you’re still restricted to the cottage grounds.
There are some other special events as well. DCCX hosts its yearly cyclocross event here, with cross-country cyclists biking along the roads and course in the lower part of the grounds. The areas tend to line up with the walking pass allowed route. If you are competing, you’ll get a special treat of getting access to areas not usually accessible by the public.
Join the Golf Club
The grounds of the Soldiers Home include a 9-hole golf course. While it is members only, it does not require any military affiliation to join. It is the easiest course to get a tee time on in DC. I rarely see people on the course.
The course itself is rumored to be in fairly poor condition, though they are working on redevelopment of it. A few years ago, the cost was $500 per year to join.
You would be able to access the golf course, driving range, and clubhouse, but don’t count on being able to wander the rest of the grounds.
To join, email afrhwgolfcourse at afrh.gov for more information.
Volunteer with Friends of the Soldiers Home
Friends of the Soldiers Home (FOSH) hosts monthly Saloon Night resident events with volunteers from the community. These nights feature entertainment, refreshments, and mingling with residents.
While you won’t be able to access the grounds, you will be able to see inside of the home itself!
You can find upcoming volunteer opportunities on the FOSH website.
Get a Walking Pass
The Armed Forces Retirement Home Walking Pass allows you to walk a prescribed route on the grounds of the Old Soldiers Home. I have a walking pass, and it really is a delightful walk.
I see some wildlife every visit, whether that’s deer, foxes, turkey vultures, or the Canadian geese who love to be on the driving range and in the lakes. It’s rarely crowded.
The program launched around 2 years ago and is currently in a pilot, and is currently at capacity. It is in high demand, and really is best for people who live in the neighborhood and will be able to take advantage of it. You can join the waitlist.
Once you’re off the waitlist, you will need to join Friends of the Soldiers Home (including paying the $50/year membership fee) and submit your information for a background check. Once you pass the check, you’ll get a pass with your name and photo that you can show to the guards.
Key Points on Walking Around the Armed Forces Retirement Home
The Armed Forces Retirement Home is a military facility, and access is limited. While no visitor can have free range and walk wherever they want, there are some ways to explore the campus.
Visiting President Lincoln’s Cottage and going on the gardens walking tour is the easiest way to explore a limited amount path at the Old Soldiers Home.
If you want to explore more, get on the waitlist for a walking pass, but you should expect to be on the list for a while.
If you combine the walking pass with golf membership, you’ll get the most access to the grounds.
