Near Cape Charles in Northampton County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Blast From the Past
A Small Fortress
This room is the casemate of Winslow Battery. Built in 1942, this bunker housed the fort's big guns two-16-inch 50-caliber barrels.
If you were in this room when the artillery was operational, you would have been able to see the ocean and scan for enemy vessels. You and the guns would have been well protected. The entire battery was built with densely reinforced concrete to withstand direct hits from battleship projectiles or aerial bombs.
Silent Witness
Originally mounted in the rear gun turret of the USS Missouri, site of the 1945 Japanese surrender ceremony, this gun saw extensive action during WWII and the Korean War. It "migrated" to the refuge in 2013 to represent the original gun that was mounted here. To honor the military history of the refuge, the 66.6-foot-long barrel was painted gray for the Navy and green for the Army.
Take a Look
This gun could hurl 2,100-pound, armor-piercing projectiles 25 miles. Traveling at 1,834 mph, the projectiles met their target in less than a minute!
This 239,000-pound beast, silent now, is a tangible testament to the sacrifices that brought us freedom and the ability to protect such beautiful places.
Erected by Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S.
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 37° 7.806′ N, 75° 57.723′ W. Marker is near Cape Charles, Virginia, in Northampton County. It is on Nature Trail east of Wildlife Trail Access, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Charles VA 23310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, on the Delmarva Peninsula, 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: Winslow Battery (here, next to this marker); A Vital Site (a few steps from this marker); Seasons of Protection (a few steps from this marker); Just Passing Through (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Land Use (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); In the Distance (about 600 feet away); Local Patriots (approx. Ό mile away); Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Charles.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
