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

Stockade and Guardhouse

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 21, 2026

1. Stockade and Guardhouse Marker

Inscription. The room in which you are standing, the present main gate walkway was originally part of the guardhouse for Fort Monroe. The door in front of you leads to the individual cells as opposed to the large room in which you are standing which was a prison room for twenty to forty men. The guardhouse was remodeled in 1870 and replaced by a new guardhouse in 1900

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 37° 0.245′ N, 76° 18.566′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It can be reached from Bernard Road north of Ruckman Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in the pedestrian passageway between the Ruckman Road vehicle bridge and the interior of Fort Monroe. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 48 Bernard Road, 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: Fort Monroe (a few steps from this marker); In Memoriam (a few steps from this marker); Freedom’s Fortress (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Escape To Freedom (about 300 feet away); Rodman Gun (about 400 feet away); Omaha Beach Memorial Tree (about 400 feet away);

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The Lincoln Gun (about 500 feet away); Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 21, 2026

2. Stockade and Guardhouse Marker

The marker is on the wall at right. Ruckman Road is visible beyond the pedestrian door in the distance. This is the 20-40 man holding area.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 21, 2026

3. Cell Door

This is the door to the individual cells described in the marker.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 21, 2026

4. Building 48

View from inside the fort. Building 48, as the Army numbered it, is the 1823 Main Gate inclusive of the stockade and gatehouse. The pedestrian pathway between the fort's interior and the Ruckman Road vehicle bridge is through the large rectangular opening at right. That casemate was modified in 1937 to allow for pedestrian traffic; it is on the north wall of that passage that the marker is mounted.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.