Fort Monroe National Monument - National Park Directory

A unique perspective only available from the air brings the entire scope of Fort Monroe into focus in one image.

Fort Monroe in foreground with USS Kearsarge in background.

Fort Monroe's Flagstaff is the first US flag the sailors of the USS Kearsage see when returning to the waters of Hampton Roads.

sun setting over the moat of Fort Monroe

Brilliant colors of the setting sun offer unique views of the largest stone fortification ever built in the United States.

sunrise over the Parade Ground illuminates Algernourne Oak.

The rising sun illuminates Algernourne Oak as it stands sentinel over the Parade Ground as it has done for almost 500 years.

an Osprey dries its wings perched on a live oak.

An Osprey, once endangered, dries its wings in the on-shore breeze while perched on a live oak.

Photos: National Park Service

About Fort Monroe National Monument

Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escaping slavery sought their freedom at the fort during the Civil War. The fort remained bastion of national defense until 2011, when it became a national park.

Quick Facts

State Virginia

Designation National Monument

State Code VA

Weather Spring: Temperatures range from 40 F to 70 F with rain being common. Summer: Temperatures range from 75 F to 100 F with rain and sun equally common. On very…

Location & Map

Fort Monroe National Monument is located in Virginia.

Get Directions

Operating Hours

Fort Monroe National Monument is open year-round for outdoor activities like walking and exploring the historic grounds. Residents occupy many of the buildings. Respect their privacy by not peering into windows or opening gates.

Wednesday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Monday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Thursday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Sunday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Tuesday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Friday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Saturday 5:00AM - 11:59PM

Activities

Biking Road Biking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Hands-On Citizen Science Volunteer Vacation Hiking Living History Reenactments Historic Weapons Demonstration First Person Interpretation Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Take exit 268 from Interstate 64 (I-64) in Hampton, Virginia toward Fort Monroe. Turn left from the exit ramp onto South Mallory Street. Turn right at the second light onto East Mellen Street. Cross the bridge and turn left at the light onto Ingalls Road. The Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center is on the left after about two-thirds of a mile. Park on Ingalls Road or in the lot behind the building.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 30 Ingalls Road, Fort Monroe, VA, 23651-1001

Phone 757-722-FORT (3678)

Email fomr_interpretation@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Architecture and Building Archeology Colonization and Settlement Explorers and Expeditions Maritime Coastal Defenses Maritime - Military Lighthouses Medicine Hospital Military Artillery US Army US Navy US Marines Monuments and Memorials Presidents Wars and Conflicts Colonial/European Contact Conflicts Civil War World War II Women's History Animals Birds Night Sky Astronomy

Things To Do

Commemorate the First African Landing

Come together at Fort Monroe each August to commemorate the landing of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia. Their historic…

Discover Fort Monroe's African American Heritage

Immerse yourself in over four hundred years of African American history. That story begins in 1619 with the arrival of…

Start at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center. View two galleries of exhibits. One describes the 1619 arrival of…

Join a Guided Tour of Fort Monroe

National Park Service and the Fort Monroe Authority offer guided walking tours year-round. Tours may answer questions about different aspects…

Both the National Park Service and the Fort Monroe Authority offer guided walking tours year-round. Tours stop at numerous places…

Be a Fort Monroe Junior Ranger

The Junior Ranger program helps kids explore, learn about, and protect Fort Monroe National Monument. Anyone can become a Junior…

Anyone can become a Junior Ranger! Grab a free activity booklet and learn more about the park’s history and what…

Start at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center

Start at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center Pick up a park brochure, ticket for the Casemate Museum, and…

See Exhibits at the Casemate Museum

Exhibits at the Casemate Museum chronicle the military history of Fort Monroe. Get your free museum ticket Fort Monroe Visitor &…

Visitor Centers

Casemate Museum

Located within the fort walls, the museum highlights a topical history of Point Comfort and Fort Monroe. The museum showcases the unique purposes of the…

Hours: Located within the fort walls, the museum highlights a topical history of Point Comfort and Fort Monroe. The museum showcases the unique purposes of the casemates through time and the important role Fort Monroe played during the Civil War through the 21st century. Learn about the importance of tourism and hospitality during the turn of the 20th century, the importance of Fort Monroe as school starting per-Civil War, and other interesting uses of the casemates over time.

Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center

Start your visit at Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center. Get oriented, see exhibits, and pick up visitor guides. Find national park passport cancellation stamps.…

Hours: Call 757-690-8181 or e-mail visit@fortmonroe.org to confirm holiday hours at Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center.