The next time you’re in Virginia, put some time aside from all the theme parks and living museums, and check out a different piece of history at Fort Monroe’s Casemate Museum in Hampton, Virginia. The fort itself was constructed from 1819 to 1834, although the site’s fortifications stretch back as far as Captain John Smith in 1608 who wanted to build a fort at Point Comfort, which was the colonial name for this part of the country. Fort Algernourne was built here first in 1609. During the war of 1812, though, after the capture and burning of Washington D.C. in 1814, the nation realized better coastal defenses were needed. The first and the biggest of these defenses was Fort Monroe. Generally speaking, a casemate, also known as a casement, is an armored building from which guns may be fired, from the original idea of a fortress’ vaulted chamber. During the Civil War, the casement at Fort Monroe was used as a prison, where the former Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, was held.
Inside the biggest stone fort in the United States (not to mention the only fort still operating with a moat around it), you will find the Casement Museum. To get inside, drive across the moat and provide your license and registration to receive a day pass. The museum itself covers the history of the fort from its origins in the 1830s, the Civil War, both World Wars, to the present day. You’ll be able to see where Jefferson Davis was kept prisoner, and there are also restored rooms that depict what life was like at the fort during the Civil War. Afterward, you’ll be able to go on a walking tour of the fort and see more historic areas.
Many people who stay over night in the Hampton area have found this museum one of the best parts of their trip to the Hampton-Williamsburg area. Indeed, going inside Fort Monroe and visiting the Casement Museum is a little like time traveling: You’ll find out about the famous people who were there, what happened to them, and why the fort was built the way it was. It’s a trip that’s relaxing and casual, and, most important these days, it’s free.
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