History
The Washington Nationals moved to the block at North Capitol and F Streets NE when they joined the National League in 1886. Spectators faced south toward the Capitol dome, and the foul lines measured only 253 and 264 feet.
The club folded after 1889. Parts of the site were later taken for Union Station and the old Main Post Office, now the National Postal Museum.
Why it matters: It was Washington's National League park in the late 1880s.
Timeline
- 1886
The Washington Nationals moved there on joining the National League.
- 1889
The club folded after the 1889 season.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Portions annexed for Union Station and the Main Post Office (now the National Postal Museum)[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Teams & events
| Washington Nationals | National League · 1886–1889 |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Capitol Park (II); Capital Park Grounds |
|---|---|
| Location | Block bounded by North Capitol Street NE, F Street NE, Delaware Avenue NE and G Street NE, Washington, Washington, D.C. |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | MLB |
| Opened | 1886[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | 1889[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 6,000[1,2] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Closure | The Washington National League club folded after 1889. |
Documented details
Sources
- Swampoodle Grounds, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, current land use, events, opened
- Swampoodle Grounds, Washington (park WAS05), Baseball Data Hub. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, opened, teams
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia calls the tenant the Washington Nationals but later refers to the 'Washington Statesmen' folding after 1889.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.