Fort Monroe National Monument

I had an opportunity to visit Fort Monroe National Monument in December 2014. The monument was created on November 1, 2011 less than two months after the base was closed. There has been a fortification of some description on this point almost continuously since the time of the Jamestowne colony in the 1600s. Enslaved Africans were brought here in 1619. The fort was constructed between 1819 and 1834. Robert E Lee oversaw part of the construction as a young West Point engineering graduate. The fort remained in Federal hands during the Civil War and became part of the pathway to freedom for many slaves after General Benjamin Butler ruled that slaves at the fort were "contraband" not subject to being returned to their rebellious owners. Because of this ruling, the fort was known as "Freedom's Fortress." After the war, former Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned here for two years. The fort was the third longest actively operated base when it was deactivated in 2011. Most of the buildings are still closed to the public as detailed interpretive plans are still being developed. The Casement Museum is open and is still operated by the US Army.

Likely not part of the monument, this is the first building on the left on Ingalls Road

Also likely not part of the monument, 90 Ingalls Road, Building 100

Bridge and sally port entry to the fort

Fort Monroe had to rely on a system of cisterns for water

Entrance to the Casemate Museum

Jefferson Davis' cell for the first 4 months of his imprisonment

This flag was hung in the cell so that Davis had to see it almost every waking moment

Other casemates had been converted to living quarters

The fort side of the casements even had large windows

Stairs lead to the top of the fort

Former gun installations are clearly visible

The base expanded well past the confines of the physical fort

Reflections in the moat

Looking back at the Fenwick Road sally port

Fort Monroe Command Center

Another view of the fort and moat

The short bridge from Fenwick Road to the sally port

The monument also contains a couple of miles of Chesapeake Bay beaches and lots of wildlife.

Breakwater helps protect the beach

While the fishing pier is closed to humans, it still hosts a flock of fishers

Sewells Point and the Navy Piers

A small Coast Guard approaches Old Point Comfort

A wildlife viewing stand is at the north end of the monumnet

Most of the gun batteries of the 20th century are off limits

Battery Irwin is open to the public

View of Norfolk from Battery Irwin

One of the guns of Battery Irwin

Other gun batteries will require major renovation or removal

There is no fee to enter Fort Monroe.
There is no fee to enter the Casement Museum. Donations are accepted.

The monument website is http://www.nps.gov/fomr/index.htm.