Notable Locations in the Hampton Roads
1. Fort Monroe — largest stone fort built in U.S. (1819-34). Home of Artillery School (1824-1906). Coast Artillery School (1907-1946) and other major commands.
2. Fort Wool — man-made island built on shoals by U.S. Army beginning around 1819. Some construction work supervised by Lt. Robert E. Lee. Presidential retreat for Andrew Jackson and John Tyler. Prison camp during Civil War. Now a park operated by City of Hampton.
3. Engineer Wharf — built to unload supplies, construction material, workers, troops, etc. Starting point for several major Union Army expeditions during Civil War. State prisoner Jefferson Davis was brought ashore at this location in May 1865.
8. Battle of Ironclads — site of famous duel between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack) on 9 March 1862. Battle lasted four hours without any clear victory for either vessel.
Craney Island — site of Confederate batteries until successful Union Army and Navy campaign of May 1862. Ironclad CSS Virginia (Merrimack) destroyed here by crew. Now a restricted area controlled by U.S. Navy.
Newport News Point site of large Union Army settlement known as Camp Butler. Starting point of James River Expedition and other campaigns to capture Richmond.
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Location. 37° 0.098′ N, 76° 18.52′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Fort Monroe. It can be reached from Bernard Road just west of Mathews Lane, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Monroe VA 23651, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginias Peninsula and in Coastal Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Retreat / Courtesies (a few steps from this marker); Fort Monroe (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named First Africans in Virginia (within shouting distance of this marker); "Ruth Window" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confinement of Jefferson Davis (about 400 feet away); Honoring Dr. John J. Craven (about 400 feet away); Lieutenant John Trout Greble (about 400 feet away); John Mitchel (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.
Other markers no longer nearby. Lantaka (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Spanish 1-½-Pounder (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); 12-Pounder Howitzer (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); 3 Inch Ordnance Rifle (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); First Africans in Virginia (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Lee's Quarters (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); 12-Pounder Gun-Howitzer (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 323 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 8, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on February 23, 2025, by Will Hrachovina of Newport News, Virginia.
