Fort Monroe is small, but packs in a lot. From a museum (Casemate), a beach club, public beach access, beautiful properties and stunning landmarks. Make sure to manage your speed and park in designated areas. The beaches never seem to be super crowded. They are generally clean as well. I have noticed boats anchor aching. Not sure how I feel about that, safety wise. There is one area that has lifeguards. The casemate museum is really great. It offers a lot of good education for the area. I highly recommend stopping and spending time inside. read more

This place did not disappoint. OMG I learned so much, first it was so clean and beauty well kept place. Not crowded the videos and speaking set up for the walking tour done by 1619 project was everything. I was in awe. The first place for enslaved people straight from Africa, the house where Abraham Lincoln plan the fight at Norfolk. Just looking at the buildings that are 200 years old built by our ancestors and they are still holding up! Place was just amazing! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the place where the first Africa's landed from Angola was blocked by construction and those little moat entrances that I had to drive my car through read more

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This fort yields fascination and confusion. You can actually drive over a moat and wait at a stoplight for some one-way driving into the fort itself. A museum on the inside requires free timed tickets. A visitor center is outside, so you could just park there and walk into the fort. The fort itself is majestic, but the visitor center also held some intrigue, including a set of artifacts from Angola that were temporarily on display and some more permanent exhibitions about the complexity of the history of slavery and warfare in the area. I did not have time to wait for a museum ticket, but the area was clearly worth perusing and it's free. read more

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This is a great place to explore. It's scenic. Nice place to relax, taking a walk, or riding your bike. Definitely worth visiting. read more

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Great place to meander through history and get some fresh air while doing so. We spend the majority of our time at the casemate museum so my review reflects our experience there. Boasting 21 unique historical sites, you can definitely plan to spend the day here walking through history on their self-guided tours. Dress accordingly and wear good walking shoes. They do have dining options and a coffee shop as well along the tour. read more

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I've been here a couple of times. I actually like how they have added to the story of the fort. They provide a lot of good information. If you are interested in the civil war and are in the area, I would highly recommend visiting here. They also have a museum on the grounds along with a gift shop of course. read more

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How has it taken me this long to visit beautiful Fort Monroe? I didn't have nearly enough time to really explore today. But I saw enough in the hour and a half we drove around and exploded. We saw the beach, the lighthouse, the old fortification and a few of the old buildings. I loved the old point comfort lighthouse. Although you couldn't go inside , it was super pretty to see in its well-maintained decay. The beach was busy and booming and the restaurant on base was also busy. We walked around the parade field and saw the old church and "Lincoln gun" canon. I was pleasantly surprised by this spot. It's very pretty and well-kept and organized and peaceful. They have a welcome center that was closed when we arrived but you can tour the on-site museum for free during business hours and can do a walking tour. I'm going to bring my dad next time he visits from out of town. He will love it. read more

Fort Monroe National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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Went on 9/4/2021 and you could stay an entire day here, walking the ground and reading all the museum placards. Can't believe this place was in use up until 2011! This place is where Confederate president Jefferson Davis was jail during the Civil War. Of course he was never brought to trial for the treason he obviously committed. read more

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Such a beautiful area to explore. It had a great visitors center and museum. We did a guided tour with park ranger Aaron, he had so much information to share. He even brought out rave lights! So much fun. read more

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The Fort Monroe Authority, National Park Services, the City of Hampton and the State of Virginia have done a great job preserving the legacy and history of this breathtaking fort. Being a lifelong Hamptonian, one can easily take for granted the access that our beautiful area has to such rich maritime and military history. The fort has so much to offer. I'd suggest stopping by the Visitor Center and allowing yourself to become immerged into the fort's past by learning about the role it played in establishing Hampton as a major military and maritime powerhouse. I love that the Visitor Center offers galleries that honor the great historians, scholars and researchers that helped to shed light on the first Africans that were brought to English-speaking North America and their plight. The statues, figurines and other monumental offerings inside the Visitor Center are breathtaking and absolutely astonishing. Thank you for honoring local greats that made Hampton their home like Booker T. Washington, Dr. William Harvey, Katherine Johnson, and more. The gift shop in the Visitor Center also has some great books for readers of all ages to learn about topics spanning slavery, Native American history and more. I'm so glad that Fort Monroe is embracing the right narratives that help to make this area more diverse and inclusive for all! read more

Fort Monroe National Monument - Gallery inside the Visitor Center. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

Have you ever wanted to go somewhere that feels stuck in time or walk around freely and not be bothered by hundreds of cars zooming past you, somewhere you can take both the dog and the kids, or even just fancy a really long stroll away from the hustle and bustle? Yes? Then this is the place for you. Fort Monroe is a decommissioned Military installation, so there's plenty of history for the history buff. Did you know that this landmark shares history with the Civil War and even the Native Americans? There's even a museum for those interested in the colonial roots of this Fort. If that's not your thing, then there's a brewery, a coffee shop, a hotel and a great restaurant on the water that may interest you. Oh, you're interested now are you? That's what I thought. Controlled by the National Park Service, a lot of preservation, time and funding has gone back in to this area; it is a wonderful and somewhat hidden treasure, even to locals. The beaches facing the Chesapeake Bay are usually quiet, and the promenade walk is thoroughly enjoyable with or without the dog and kids. Stop by when you can, besides, it's free! read more

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We have been making the drive to come to this beach and it is SO WORTH IT! There is usually spots to park. You walk up this little hill and jump the railing to go to the beach. There are spots that have steps for easier access but then there are people there and you end up waking down the beach in the sand to find a spot. The traffic to get on isn't usually bad but leaving... we almost ALWAYS hit traffic. There are not many trash cans so we usually pack a big trash bag and then carry it back to where the parking lot is to a trash can. Yorktown has so many trash cans everywhere to help cut down on trash on the beach. I don't know of any public restrooms close by but maybe there are? read more

The case with Museum has tours and educational talks. Some of their special events are listed on Eventbrite. Especially exciting offerings for those interested in history, and every Halloween season those ghost tours. read more

Fort Monroe is super unique in that it holds a couple of distinctions. It was the fort that confined Jefferson Davis, is the largest stone fort in the United States, and only active manor encircled fort in active duty. I arrived with two hours until they closed so I had to prioritize where to go. Because it's an active fort, a lot of the residences are still in use and therefore can't be toured. The historic fort itself is fair game. There's even a pet cemetery here which is something I didn't expect, but loved. read more

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i love this area :) beautiful place to listen to music and drive and think and have a silly fun time :)

Growing up here, amazing I've never crossed the moat. Kinda interested in this history. read more

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Great place to site see, and learn history. You can park and walk/run around if you'd like as well. Stop by one day :)

Fantastic place to explore and read up on historical events and appreciate the architecture of the times.

Really neat area that's easy to get to (other than traffic) from either side of the Hampton Roads Bridge and Tunnel - it's the first exit north of the bridge. A surprisingly interesting area with lots of places for walking, for picnics, for beaching, for ballfields and for fishing. And so much history to be seen as well! read more

Fort Monroe National Monument - Old Comfort Point Lighthouse near the Fort Monroe National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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The Casemate Museum is free as is parking, however parking is limited. US Army Fort from 1819-2011 with a tremendous amount of history. Largest stone fort built in the US and surrounded by a moat with the purpose of protecting shipping on the Chesapeake and Washington DC/Baltimore from Naval raids such as the British did in the War of 1812. Fort Monroe remainder in Union control during the Civil War and became notable as a historic and symbolic site of early freedom for former slaves under the provisions of contraband policies. For two years thereafter, the former Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, was imprisoned at the fort. His first months of confinement were spent in a cell of the casemate fort walls that is now part of its Casemate Museum. read more

Beautiful place with a lot of history, lot to see. But one major flaw... Do NOT bring your dogs here (or kids either). The walkway by the ocean (beaches which are dog friendly on off season) has a plant that releases SPIKED round balls. (Idk how else to describe it, they are like little tiny balls with super sharp spikes coming out of it) They are extremely painful. I went there today with my two dogs and both started limping after few mins. I checked their paws and I tried to remove the spiked plant ball but it hurts just touching it so I removed it with my clothes. The finger I used to touch the ball still hurts many hours later. (Maybe some residue of the plant?) I ran into a regular veteran guy and he states he has seen many kids and dogs in pain due to them being unaware of the plant. (The plant is EVERYWHERE. Even if you try to avoid it, the balls may be prevalent on the sidewalks) He carries a tweezer with him in his pocket to help remove the spiked plant. I can't believe no review mentions this (including google reviews) because I feel that it is a HUGE HAZARD for dogs. So dog owners be aware, this is NOT a place to walk the dogs. They did enjoy the beach but it is not worth the stress of having to avoid the grass as they love going on the grass. It is unfortunate that this plant is kept alive here because this place is beautiful and well maintained, I feel like they should eradicate this plant so it can be safe for animals and humans alike. I came back home and checked my shoes and found the spiked embedded in my shoes. I will not be going back. read more

This place is not really a location to just hang out and have some adventures however, it is a great spot to take a lot of photos. read more

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Gotta love this place. I'll come here often, whether it's with friends, family, or for work. Nine times out of ten, I am here with a client for a portrait session. This place provides the best of all worlds; allowing me to have visuals of water, grass, stone, and even sand. Beyond everything else the history at this place is definitely a sight to see if ever touring the area. The atmosphere here is very people and pet friendly! read more

Review in progress, but here's a first - How do you add hours in Yelp, when the hours are from sunrise to sunset? From the website: Standard Hours Sunday: Sunrise - Sunset Monday: Sunrise - Sunset Tuesday: Sunrise - Sunset Wednesday: Sunrise - Sunset Thursday: Sunrise - Sunset Friday: Sunrise - Sunset Saturday: Sunrise - Sunset Here's the URL for the Casemate Museum, located in the fort - http://www.fmauthority.com/visit/casemate-museum/ read more

Can her for a relaxing day. First time here and love the history. Great place for the family or by yourself. read more

Fort Monroe National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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I have visited the Fort Monroe ground before and found it to be interesting if you take your time and make a leisure stroll around the perimeter. A lot of old grave markers on the top of the hills ranging from people to pets. Great scenic pictures to be taken from up there too. Today was a beach day. We always go to the fishing pier to see if there were any lucky fishermen. None today. We headed to the beach to swim and play. Two lifeguards manning two waterholes, no crowd, clean beaches and even the water was the right temperature. What little that washes up will not provide you with a suitable she'll souvenirs to give away but it makes for more comfortable strolls along the water. This is one of our best kept secrets and I enjoy coming here over the crowded beaches and ones that every other step is litter of some kind. No nearby stores so pack before you come or stop at the store on the way. Good old port-a-johns around the corner! read more

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Fort Monroe was designed by the French military engineer Brigadier General Simon Bernard, Fort Monroe was conceived as an element of the Third System of coastal defenses outlined by Congress in the aftermath of the War of 1812. Completed in 1834 and named in honor of President James Monroe, Fort Monroe is recognized as the largest stone fort ever built in the United States. Nicknamed "Freedom's Fortress," this Union-held fortification provided a safe haven for hundreds of runaway slaves during the Civil War. It was also the site where the Army of the Potomac landed before beginning the march toward Richmond during the Peninsula Campaign. Fort Monroe's history is interpreted for visitors in its Casemate Museum. Walking tours of the fort are available during the summer months. Fort Monroe became a part of the National Park System on November 1, 2011, after more than 150 years as an active army post. It has been so long since we were there in December of ''13 that I don't remember details but generally speaking: The place itself is huge. The Casemate Museum is equally large and takes quite some time to do it justice. For some reason we got lost trying to find the Casemate as of GPS insisted that its address did not exist. If you want you can now live at Fort Monroe as part of it's redevelopment. This place did not have daily ranger coverage yet per the girl in the gift shop. The Casemate got quite a few visitors but the rest of the fort was mostly deserted in terms of walkers, visitors or people just wanting to look around in general. The Junior Ranger Program book for kids was actually quite difficult because the Casemate is so big and spread out things took forever to find. When done, don't look for a ranger just take it to the gift shop and the staff there was in charge of checking it/handing out the badge. read more

This was a last minute add to our itinerary and we are so glad that we visited! To those who frequent national parks, it is obvious this site is one of the newer additions. There is not a lot of NPS signage or exhibits. However, what is there is very interesting and pretty well done. We enjoyed being out of the city and loved being able to drive through the narrow gates to get into the fort. We were free to walk around and spent a lot of time in the Casement Museum. Much of the major historic sites are under renovation but we didn't mind that too much. There was still plenty to take in. We even enjoyed a walk along the beach. If you are looking to get out of the hustle and bustle and if you like being able to roam freely, make time to visit Fort Monroe! read more

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A rich history of the USA, definitely worth the visit. See the house where Abe Lincoln walked, learn of the history of the Fort, the wars, the men who died there, the makeshift prison and the Civil War history. Museum tickets are free but you pickup in the Visitor Center first, which has its own historical tribute to the blacks who changed history. One of the three forts -Sumpter and Pulisik - in the fight for independence and freedom. read more

Awesome Fort/town! So much history and well maintained! Cool driving tour of this historical community/fort! Definitely worth a visit!!

Pretty cool historical spot. Worth a visit. Was surprised to see people living at the fort!! I only wish there was a visitor center with info and with restrooms. You can hear traffic from the freeway on the side near there. Opt to walk on the other end for water views. In the middle of the fort is a neglected central open area. There are some nice trees there though. Pack food or at least a snack. read more

It is pretty amazing inside the fort I would definitely live here it's beautiful. I love how you are allowed to live in the houses. Landscaping is gorgeous as well. read more

Great place to visit to see some historical sights, go for a run, or simply relax at the beach. One of my favorite locations in the Hampton Roads area. read more

Fort Monroe National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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This place is so cool! It is a free museum and the beach was beautiful. We got to walk through and experience history. The soldiers were pretty short so if your Shaq then I recommend you explore the fort from outside. From the beach we got to see the U.S.S George Washington which was legit. read more

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Fort Monroe is my all time favorite place to be! I have lived down the road from it for many years and it has never once gotten old. I love walking the top of the fort during the summer and seeing where all the guns were once placed. I mean, how cool is it that you are literally walking in the footsteps of soldiers? The Casemate Museum is free of charge but full of information and amazing artifacts. There is not one place in the area that does not hold some amount of historical value and significance. The amount of legends that go along with it is reason enough to visit! The grounds are clean and well kept. There are historical markers all over to read. During the fall months they even host ghost tours that are so much fun! I recommend it to any history buff and Civil War lover. read more

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Came here in the off season due to my university spring break being in the middle of March, it was all free and very well kept. Amazing scenery and a lot of information in the casemate museum! I learned things I didn't know and enjoyed wandering around the Fort / surrounding areas. You have to visit read more

The largest stone-built fort in U.S.! Unique history and awesome museum. It is not an active army base anymore and you can buy property/homes within the stone walls! Would love to have a house here. Pretty cool place! read more

I have been living in Virginia Beach for 9 years and only just looked into the grounds at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. What a neat little historical gem! There's a mini beach area where one can bask in the sun, historical landmarks (mostly civil war stuff, and there are actual residences on the premises (there are literally places you can rent if you choose to live there). Seems to be a diversely populated area (I saw a lot of diversity in the people who were there which is always a plus -- to me). It seems like a great place for a picnic, but a few things to keep in mind: I only saw a couple of porto-pottys so if you have little kids, consider this when you go (porto-pottys can be hit or miss and there is no running water to wash hands), I don't see many places close by to get food, so make sure you have everything you need, it is a small area and a bit spread out at the same time which is a bit strange (lol). Beautiful little area worth checking out for a few hours or making a day of it (they have a boardwalk as well which looks like a nice place to ride a bike)! read more

A beautiful and historic place with lots of charm and history, plus a nice beach. It was formerly a military post since the 1600's due to its strategic location, now it's a nice neighborhood. read more

Took a side trip to Fort Monroe while visiting Norfolk. Its not marked very well and we just kind of stumbled onto the Casemate Museum, which you really have to find to get a map for the walking tour. Make sure to cross the bridge over moat directly into the Fort area to find the Museum. The museum is very interesting showing where Jefferson Davis was kept prisoner. When you start the walking tour, unless your young and fit, take your car. Even following the map its not easy to follow and most things are stumbled upon. We were lucky enough to find a few things not on the map. On the outside of the Fort there appears to be some beautiful beaches with lifeguards on duty. I think it would be great for kids to be on the beach when a Navy destroyer goes by, as it did today. The Fort isn't a must see and I think kids would get bored. History buffs will be in heaven. read more