Near Cape Charles in Northampton County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Vital Site
Strategically located at the southernmost point of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Fisherman Island is a vital habitat for the birds and animals that live and nest there and stop off on their journey south. Before it was a wildlife refuge, the island played a vital role in our country's military defense.
In the late 1800s, it was the site of a Marine Hospital and Quarantine Station for immigrants heading to Baltimore and Newport News. During WWI, two 5-inch guns were placed on the island and utilized by the Army for harbor defense. In 1937, the War Department again resumed control of the island for a Navy coastal artillery station. Its battery of 155-mm guns protected the minefield across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay through WWII.
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After WWII, a Naval Harbor Defense Unit continued to man the island until 1962.
Since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took possession of the island in 1973, it has been an important stopover for migratory birds and a vital nesting area for shorebirds.
Erected by Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Military • Parks & Recreational Areas • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location.
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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 (a few steps from this marker); A Blast From the Past (a few steps from this marker); Seasons of Protection (within shouting distance of 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 500 feet away); Local Patriots (approx. 0.3 miles 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 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
