An Island in a City

In between the two states, once inside the original DC proper, sits an island in the middle of the Potomac River. Originally known as Anacostine Island, this small stretch of land was occupied by the Nacotchtank Indians in the late 1600’s. The island was acquired by George Masson III, and remained in the family for many years. Eventually John Mason, the grandson of George Mason III, inherited the island and built a mansion on the Island. For roughly 50 years, the Mason family occupied the place. In the 1840s, river patterns caused the family to abandon the dwelling, and the island changed hands a few times. During the Civil War, Union troops occupied the island. Shortly after, a fire destroyed the interior of the mansion, and another fire in 1906 destroyed the structure of the house. The island was abandoned since the first fire until 1931, when Congress authorized the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial after buying the island from a gas company.

I visited the island a few weeks ago, interested in seeing this nature reserve in the middle of DC’s metropolitan area. It was about what I expected: trees, flowers, a great many birds. The park service is very relaxed, so people have the freedom to carve their own trails and see the sites. There’s a great view of the George Washington Bridge, and it’s a popular location for joggers. Since the nearest Metro stop is Rosslyn, it’s difficult for people to get to on foot, but the highway connects to the parking lot across the river, and many cyclists use the place as a staging area. 

View of the bridge from the island

The memorial was interesting, but after my first trip, I wanted to find the house ruins. I found an old map, and read a blog-post about a Smithsonian employee who undertook a similar quest in the early 2000’s. I knew the house and surrounding grounds were located on the southern peak of the island, and the main structures faced south. One Friday, while waiting for a friend, I walked over to the island and started searching. I had my compass, and found a raised area on the south end of the island, but didn’t see any obvious signs of ruins. I read that the Civilian Conservation Corps destroyed much of the mansion when building the memorial, but the building foundations should still be in place. I used my compass, trees, and geography to find a rough location, then started circling. 

House after the Second fire

Eventually, I found an un-naturally flat clearing, but didn’t find any stones. I cut back to the trail, and saw what I was looking for: A sign, posted by the Park Service, marking the location of the house. I had crossed over the area before, thinking the trees too old and thick to hold a large house, but when I looked at it again, I saw the over-grown rocks and rises of a foundation. There wasn’t much to look at, but I could see where a house once stood. It’s amazing to think what that house would have been like: Alone, on a personal island, with the capital across the river. It would have been the ultimate living location in the DC area, but instead, its destroyed, open for the public to enjoy. 

Whats left of the Ice House.

 Ian Seifert