I’m not going to inundate you with information, but I will post some pictures for your viewing pleasure of our latest excursion, the Historic FortMonroe in Phoebus,Virginia.
Fort Monroe, the place where slavery (beginning and end) came full circle and the place where Jefferson Davis was imprisoned, not to mention the protector of the Chesapeake Bay is now a National Monument due to Presidential declaration and is in the process of becoming a National Park. “The park service will manage 325 acres of the 565-acre property, including the largest moated stone fort ever built in the United States. A state entity, Fort Monroe Authority, will oversee the rest.” http://hamptonroads.com/2011/11/fort-monroe-national-park-be-led-longtime-fan
Howitzer in front of Casemate Museum.
The Lincoln Cannon
Chapel of the Centurion
Ramparts
Cannonballs in front of the Casemate Museum
North Moat Gate
Main Gate Bridge
Saint Mary's Church
Some trees at Fort Monroe are reported to be over 400 years old!
Generals Row
Another view of Casemate
Clock Tower, previous Post Office built in 1898
Historic Chamberlain
Old Point Comfort Lighthouse
Fort Monroe Command Center
Rapid-fire Gun
Battery Irwin
Another view, Battery Irwin
***Due to the length of this photo essay, I will include today’s Living in the Gap with tomorrow’s post.
Love these pictures. I think this fort was on an episode of Ghost Adventures. I think it is supposedly very haunted.
By: pegbur7 on February 3, 2012
at 10:02 am
Sorry, to report we did not encounter any ghosts…no I’m not sorry, but sure you’d have been disappointed about it!
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:04 pm
Great photos! Looking at the cannon and the cannon balls, it’s hard to imagine the armies dragging those things around the countryside with the only method of transport being on foot or by horseback.
By: Carol on February 3, 2012
at 10:07 am
…and we think we have it tough!
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:03 pm
Looks like a fantastic place. Good we don’t forget these things. Thanks for sharing.
By: Linda on February 3, 2012
at 10:24 am
It is really interesting…should be some major overhauls soon as it is a “park in progress”.
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:03 pm
Love that pile of cannonballs . . . glad I don’t have to load them into the cannon though. They must weigh a TON!
By: nrhatch on February 3, 2012
at 11:14 am
Oh man, woulda’ broken my back!
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:02 pm
Really interesting photos. I’d love to go in that lighthouse! Fascinating place too. My God, the history!
By: Linda Medrano on February 3, 2012
at 11:22 am
The lighthouse is still in operation. So glad we went there and will definitely be going back!
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:01 pm
Wonderful photos, Suzi!
I especially enjoyed the one of the lighthouse. I have this ‘thing’ for lighthouses. To me, they symbolize God. Light and guidance.
Thank you for sharing this post, my friend. I’m such a history buff, so I really enjoyed this.
Have a great weekend!
X
By: Ron on February 3, 2012
at 11:40 am
I love lighthouses, too! I took one shot of just the top, kinda’ cool.
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:01 pm
Thanks for sharing your photos. They’re quite nice.
By: CMSmith on February 3, 2012
at 11:42 am
Glad you enjoyed them.
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:00 pm
What interesting photos you’ve shared, Suzicate! So much history in your part of the country!
By: Debbie on February 3, 2012
at 11:45 am
There is lots of history around here.
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 1:00 pm
Great! These are the pics Dirtman took? Beautiful.
By: terrepruitt on February 3, 2012
at 12:54 pm
No, Terre. These are the pics I took. The ones he took are absolutely incredible…They’re on my FB page; he tagged me in them….go take a look…you will be impressed with his!
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 12:59 pm
These are great!
By: terrepruitt on February 4, 2012
at 1:02 am
Thank, Terre!
By: suzicate on February 4, 2012
at 3:06 pm
Awesome, thanks.
By: LeRoy Dean on February 3, 2012
at 2:35 pm
You are welcome.
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 5:49 pm
I love the old stone work. Definitely a place worth visiting next time I head south.
By: Crowing Crone Joss on February 3, 2012
at 3:30 pm
There was some really pretty stonework and buildings…not to mention the fabulous trees and reflections over the water!
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 5:48 pm
I loved looking at the pictures. It is a little frustrating not to know the history and associations better. I gather that the schooling system there makes sure that everyone has a very good grasp of them indeed.
By: colonialist on February 3, 2012
at 4:55 pm
I’m sorry I didn’t include much info about the war and how the fort was used. If you’re interested here’s a link with some info. http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Fort_Monroe_During_the_Civil_War
By: suzicate on February 3, 2012
at 5:47 pm
I enjoyed these pics, as did my husband (he’s all for checking it out one day!) Now, we just have to find a way (and the time) to head east…
By: jannatwrites on February 4, 2012
at 12:57 am
Would love for you guys to come out this way! We hope to make it out your way again soon!
By: suzicate on February 4, 2012
at 3:05 pm
This is definitely a must-see!
By: pattisj on February 6, 2012
at 1:01 am
You need to plan an outing!
By: suzicate on February 6, 2012
at 6:27 pm
I wonder what history each of these objects carry and what each has witnessed. We can read about it in history books, but mind wonders about the people and conversations that aren’t memorialized.
By: Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri on February 6, 2012
at 12:37 pm
Yes, a lot of history…personal not just on a large scale.
By: suzicate on February 6, 2012
at 5:56 pm
I am so pleased to have stumbled across your photos of Ft Monroe! While my home is on the other coast, I travel to VA from time to time. I last visited Ft Monroe just 2 days after they had officially closed the fort and lowered the flag for the last time. It was a sad time–not knowing yet that the President would sign and save it. What a lost treasure if he had not done so.
I have a much loved photo of the light house as well. Would you give me permission to save some of your photos to my iPhotos? Thanks!
By: Sue Asbjornsen on February 8, 2012
at 4:16 pm
Ft. Monroe is such a treasure. As long as I’ve lived here, I can’t believe it has taken me this long to visit. Most assuredly, I will return. We took so many pictures, only put a few on my blog. And the hubbys are much better as his are HD photos. You may save some of mine to you iPhotos…enjoy. I found a book online (Barnes & Noble) and they also have it at the Casemate Museum with fabulous old photographs and some intriguing history. It is titles “Images of America Fort Monroe” by Paul S. Morando and David J. Johnson. It is 127 pages with two pics on almost every page…a fabulous find.
By: suzicate on February 8, 2012
at 8:14 pm
Great photos of a fascinating place.
By: Yousei Hime on February 17, 2012
at 7:24 am
It is filled with history.
By: suzicate on February 20, 2012
at 11:51 am