Arcturus is a bright star in the night sky and a common name for sailing vessels, but it is known to area residents as that place north of the bend in the Potomac at Mount Vernon.

There are several natural harbors in and around Arcturus and at one time the area was a fisherman's get-away: the perfect place for DC anglers to escape from the city.

There are few remnants of the fishing shacks here. One is more likely to find a multi-million dollar estate home in Arcturus these days. Most homes by the Potomac have piers and docks. The wooded lands up above the river and along Fort Hunt Road have many large homes on quiet roads with little traffic.