Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

How Big Is Fort Monroe?

Fort Monroe

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 6, 2021

1. How Big Is Fort Monroe? Marker

Inscription.
Very big… Fort Monroe is a giant among forts—the largest masonry fort ever built in the United States. The main fortification covers 63 acres and the walls stretch 1.3 miles around it. The fort is so big that it took 15 years to build the cost nearly two million dollars.

Take A Look
Compare the size of Fort Monroe with five other US forts built around the same time. Note that the next largest fort is less than a third the size of Fort Monroe.

Fort Monroe, Virginia
Size: 63 acres,
Built ca 1819
Building Materials: granite and brick

Fort Adams, Rhode Island
Size: 20 acres, Built ca 1825
Building materials: granite, shale, and brick

Fort McHenry, Maryland
Size: 2 acres, Built ca 1796
Building materials: earth and brick

Fort Pulaski, Georgia
Size: 2 acres, Built ca 1829
Building materials: bricks, granite, and sandstone

Fort Wool, Virginia
Size: 15 acres, Built ca 1819
Building materials: granite and brick

Fort Sumter, South Carolina
Size: 2.4 acres, Built ca 1829
Building materials: rubble, stone, and brick

[Caption:]
The Parade Ground, the open space in the center of Fort Monroe, covers four acres. It was used for drills, ceremonies, and recreation.

Erected by Fort

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Monroe Authority; National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1819.

Location. 37° 0.134′ N, 76° 18.644′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Fort Monroe. It can be reached from Ingalls Road just north of Fenwick Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 30 Ingalls Rd, Fort Monroe VA 23651, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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 South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Who Built Fort Monroe?

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 6, 2021

2. How Big Is Fort Monroe? Marker

(here, next to this marker); Fort Monroe's Arc Of Freedom (a few steps from this marker); Why A Moat? (a few steps from this marker); A Bay Worth Preserving (a few steps from this marker); Enormous Undertaking: The Fort's Construction (a few steps from this marker); Why Was The Fort Built Here? (a few steps from this marker); Wisser Hall: From Books To War Games (within shouting distance of this marker); Hurricane Isabel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 513 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.