Fort Monroe National Monument
Fort Monroe
A hexagonal stone fortress on Old Point Comfort in Hampton, the largest moated stone fort in the United States. It bears witness to the first Africans to land in British North America and to the 'contraband' history of enslaved people who escaped to it.
Fort Monroe stands at Old Point Comfort in Hampton. Completed in 1834, it is the largest moated stone fort in the United States. It remained under Union control throughout the Civil War, and many escaped enslaved people found refuge there, earning it the nickname 'Freedom's Fortress'. In 1619, the first Africans brought to British North America also landed nearby. Inside the fort, the Casemate Museum displays the cell where Jefferson Davis was held, along with the fort's history, and visitors can stroll along the ramparts and look out at the sea. Designated a national monument in 2011, it is free to visit. It is about 40 km from Virginia Beach.
Opening hours
Museum 10:30 am–4:30 pm; closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Virginia Air & Space Science Center
- Norfolk Botanical Garden
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
- Adam Thoroughgood House
- Mount Trashmore Park
- First Landing State Park
- Cape Henry Lighthouse
- King Neptune Statue