World War I-era munitions found in D.C. park — and the Army says there may be more

U.S.
World War I-era munitions found in D.C. park — and the Army says there may be more
BY STEPHEN SMITH

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 / 10:53 AM EST / CBS NEWS

A section of Fort Totten Park in Washington, D.C. will remain closed while the National Park Service and U.S. Army continue to investigate World War I-era munitions that were found there, officials said Thursday.

The metal projectiles were originally discovered in April and now the Army has determined that other munitions may be hidden in the park, the National Park Service said in a statement, although officials did not disclose what led them to that conclusion.

Two metal canisters were found on April 18 during unauthorized work conducted by an adjacent property owner who pushed about 10 feet of soil onto Fort Totten Park, officials said. One munition was a 75-mm projectile, about 11 inches long, and the other was a 19-inch-long Livens projector — a mortar-like weapon that could launch gas bombs.

Nearby subway trains bypassed the Fort Totten stop for more than an hour after the munitions were found, CBS affiliate WUSA-TV reported.