Fort Monroe Seawall History

Fort Monroe Seawall History. Protecting the Coast. , Strategic Location , Fort Monroe occupies a peninsula in the shape of the letter "J" or a “fishhook" surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, and Mill Creek. The southern tip of the peninsula is known as Old Point Comfort and was historically connected to the mainland by only a narrow isthmus. During most of its history, the coastline along where you stand today was not solely fronted by seawalls. Sandy beaches and wooden wharfs lined most of the entire southern side of Old Point Comfort during the 19th and part of the 20th centuries., Weathering the Storm , Coastal protection has been a priority for maintaining the site since the 19th century. Violent storms that batter the coast nearly every year are not only responsible for beach erosion, but have caused flooding and significant damage to buildings. After construction of present-day Fort Monroe began in 1819, the southern edge of the peninsula remained largely unprotected from storm surge prior to 1833., Stemming the Tide , Early attempts at shoreline preservation included wooden bulkheads, sheet pilings backed by wooden boards, and riprap consisting of barriers of non-bonded stone. In 1891, construction began on four pile jetties east and north of Old Point Comfort to provide additional protection in these areas. The first of these, Jetty #1, was constructed 900 feet east of the Engineering Wharf. The wood and stone barriers proved unsuccessful to withstanding strong storm surges. Storms often damaged these structures, washing out the pilings and scouring the banks behind., A Concrete Solution , In 1895, the first concrete seawall was constructed to protect Fort Monroe from coastal flooding and erosion. By this time, concrete had become an adaptable and pliable construction material considerably stronger and more permanent than wood or stone. The first concrete seawall was expanded eastward from Jetty #1 between 1900 and 1906; westward to the Main Wharf abutment located at the end of Ingalls Road between 1902 and 1906; and further westward from this location to the Navy Wharf between 1957 and 1983., (captions) , Background Image: Reproduction Map of Hampton Roads Area ca. 1861, Illustrating the Strategic Importance of Fort Monroe , 1861 Engraving Showing Beach Frontage along Old Point Comfort , 1892 Engraving Showing Old Point Comfort. A Promenade Fronts the Hygeia Hotel and a Wooden Seawall is Shown Leading to the Engineering Pier. , 1905 View of Wooden Seawall Fronting the Chamberlin Hotel