Nacotchtank history Prior to
European colonization, the area where the Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling is located was inhabited by the
Nacotchtank, an
Algonquian people. The largest village of the Nacotchtank was located just north of the base, south of
Anacostia Park. Two
ossuaries (burial grounds) have been discovered at Bolling Air Force Base and other Nacotchtank archaeological sites have been found at Giesboro Point on the Potomac River. The two burial mounds, which included Nacotchtank bones and skulls, were discovered in 1936 by crews working at the air force base. The burial site was also likely once a Nacotchtank village.
Slavery The Giesborough site was owned by one of the largest slave holders in the area, George Washington Young. The site was purchased in 1833 and operated as a large plantation until the start of the civil war. Large tracts of land were donated to the Union so that a cavalry post could be established.
Naval Support Facility Anacostia The Navy began testing
seaplanes at this facility in 1918, and it eventually became a
naval air station supporting conventional aircraft. Located immediately north of Bolling Air Force Base, NAS Anacostia remained in service as an active naval air station until 1962, when its runways were deactivated concurrent with Bolling's due to traffic pattern issues with nearby
Washington National Airport. Redesignated as a naval support facility, NSF Anacostia serves as headquarters for Commander, Naval Installations, Navy Office of the Chief of Information, and continues to maintain a large heliport facility, primarily used by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (
HMX-1) in support of "
Marine One"
presidential transport operations with
VH-3D and
VH-60N aircraft.
Bolling Air Force Base Bolling's property has been a Department of Defense (DOD) asset since 1917. From its beginning, the installation has included the Army Air Corps (predecessor to today’s Air Force) and Navy aviation and support elements. The tract of land selected for the base was scouted by
William C. Ocker at the direction of General Billy Mitchell. The base began near
Anacostia in 1918, as the only military airfield near the
United States Capitol and was originally named
The Flying Field at Anacostia on 2 October 1917. It was renamed
Anacostia Experimental Flying Field in June 1918. == Based units ==