Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post that lies between the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington D.C. It has been in existence for 200 years and is third in length of time in service to both West Point and Carlisle Barracks. The military installation was established in 1791 and was chosen as a prime location to defend the capital. In 1826, land was purchased for the first federal penitentiary and the conspirators accused of killing President Lincoln were imprisoned there. The Civil War wounded were treated at a hospital that was also built nearby. The hospital was a predecessor to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. Reed found the area an excellent site for this research on malaria and yellow fever. About 90 percent of the buildings now on post were originally constructed in 1909 and have just been remodeled since. Fort McNair became a training center for senior officers by 1904, and the Army Industrial College was founded in 1924. In later years, it became the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. By 1943, the Army-Navy Staff College had evolved and finally became the National Defense University in 1976. The post was named after Lt. General Lesley J. McNair, the commander of Army ground forces during World War II. The U.S Amery Military District of Washington has been headquartered at Fort McNair since 1966.

Weather in the Fort McNair area tends to be warm in the summer with temperatures in the 70s and very cold in the winter with the temperatures in the 30s. Annual rainfall in the area is 39 inches with the wettest month being May. July is the warmest month, and January is the coldest. Local housing options are available nearby in cities such as Arlington, Alexandria, and Washington D.C. Major tenants at Fort McNair include the National Defense University, the Information Resources Management College, and the Institute for National Strategic Studies. The United States Army Center of Military History moved to Fort McNair in September 1998. The museum occupies preserved quarters that were once the commissary and prior to that the Fort McNair’s stables. The history division on the fort is one of the most involved in writing and providing historical research support to the Army staff.