Fort Monroe,VA 
1819 - Present
Driving Directions
Hampton, VA
Updated Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:15 PM
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Click on the map for Interactive, Aerial and Birds Eye Views.
Ft. Monroe Band
A display model of the old fort showing the location of the Jefferson Davis Casement. The Fort is still in use with current active duty officers housed inside and enlisted personel outside the moat walls. The moat is still full of water and the one way gates into the citadel make driving a bit of a pain.
This redoubt was built to protect the fort from a land based attack. I'm guessing that the polished stone at the base was to make it harder to climb. The grass is what we call owie grass because it's very prickley. I also noticed catus growing along the base. If it wasn't planted on purpose, it is a good idea, anyway.
Same redoubt from the top, note the fire step. Also, from the top of the interwall the width of the redoubt would force an attacker to rise up and expose himself to fire.
The moat is quite wide and note the fire ports at the end of the straightaway.
To enter the old fort you have to cross one of the narrow one lane bridges. Vehicle and foot traffic is controlled by the traffic lights at the right end of the bridge.
This lighthouse is still working.
Down through the years many different artillery pieces have been setup on the walls.
The view from the wall.
Lee served as a Lieutenant in the Engineers and in that capacity was responsible for much of the construction of the fort; highly ironic, considering the forts later role for the Union in the Civil War.
Here you can see some of the techniques used in building the fort. It's interesting to see how they interfaced between the dressed stone and the brick.
Jefferson Davis Casement
May 22-October 2, 1865
Fort Monroe is the home of the Jefferson Davis Casement where Jefferson Davis was confined while being held as a suspect in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Lincoln had been the president of the Union during the Civil War and had been shot. Davis was arrested while the U.S. government investigated Lincoln's murder. Davis was a guest of the government for a period of two years after the Civil War until being exonerated completely and turned loose.
Jefferson Davis' cell while he was held at Fort Monroe. It beat the accommodations at Andersonville.
Inside the Jeff's cell.
Jefferson Davis inside his cell.
Union Soldiers inside Andersonsville.
Andersonsville inmate.
I'm so glad to know that Jeff was up cheered up in his suffering.
It must have been rough, so Jefferson was moved to better accomodations in Carrol Hall.
Jefferson Davis Casement Museum
Officers and their families lived in the casement, even though to was too much for Jeff.
There are some very fine old fireplaces throughout the casement.
The museum is divided up by time period with each section representing soldiers from the war of that period.
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