Potomac River Cruise Sights

Experience Washington's highlights with a panoramic view
Your Spirit cruise departs from Pier 4 at 6th and Water Streets. Your excursion covers the Potomac River with fascinating views of America's great landmarks and Washington's historic waterfront. No trip to our national capital is complete without a view from the deck of our festive ship.

1. Fort Lesley J. McNair and General's Row
   Fort McNair has had many different names over the years. In 1948 the post was renamed in honor of the commander of the Army Ground Forces in WWII. McNair who was killed in Normandy in 1944, was the highest-ranking officer to be killed by friendly fire.

   General's Row is prime waterfront property on Fort McNair; generals and those officers of "flag rank" live here with their families while they make their home in DC.

2. Washington Monument
   The Washington Monument is over 555 ft. tall, the tallest free-standing stone sculpture in the world. There are no reinforcements to hold the stones together - just the weight of the stones and the way they are fitted together holds the structure.

3. National Airport
   National Airport is one of the busiest Airports in the US with an average of 1 flight every 30 seconds at peak periods which equals about 900 flights on a busy day. Despite this, it is one of the safest airports in the US.
4. Alexandria, Virginia
   Alexandria was first established in the 1600s by Scottish and English tobacco merchants. Early settlers envisioned a bustling port and at one time, Alexandria was the 3rd largest port in the country, especially during the Civil War. However, as ships grew larger, the deeper and more accessible ports of Baltimore and Norfolk overshadowed Alexandria.
5. Torpedo Factory
   The Torpedo Factory is a red brick building with green copper roof and low white building with a "bulls-eye" target. It was used for the manufacture and maintenance of torpedoes on and off from 1918 until the end of WWII.
6. Admiral's Row
   These historic townhomes remain virtually unchanged since the colonial days except for modern plumbing and electricity. They were used by ship's captains and their families when they were in port of Alexandria.

7. Jones Point
   The survey marker is the south cornerstone of the District of Columbia which marks the beginning of the 1791 survey that carved out the federal jurisdiction from the states of Maryland and Virginia. In 1846, this portion of the district was retroceded back to Virginia. Jones Point Lighthouse was built adjacent to the cornerstone in 1855.

8. Woodrow Wilson Bridge
   The Woodrow Wilson Bridge is the only active drawbridge on the Potomac at this time. It is the southernmost of 7 crossings of the Potomac in DC and the last bridge for approx. 50 miles down river. This bridge is part of I95 and connects Maryland and Virginia.

9. US Naval Research Lab
   The US Naval Research Lab celebrated its 75th Anniversary in June, 1998. This Lab is significant for the discovery of radar in the 1920s. This happened by accident during radio signal experiments between the lab and Hains Point when ships got in the way.
   
   

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