From Point Comfort to Fort Monroe:
The 400th Anniversary of the African Landing
The 400th Anniversary Commemorative Weekend August 23-25 included the Commemoration Ceremony and Preview of the Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center on Saturday, August 24. This year, the Fort Monroe National Monument welcomed a multi-day celebration centered around the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution and the 400th anniversary of the first Africans to arrive in English North America. The weekend also included remembrance ceremonies, gallery exhibits, tours, cultural workshops and live music. The new Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center, briefly opened with a preview for visitors and they learned more about the 1619 African arrival story, the 1861 Contraband Decision and the military presence at the Fort. For more information about the 2019 Commemoration of the First African Landing visit: firstafricanlanding.com
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Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center
Opening 2019
The Visitor Center will provide visitors with a point of arrival and orientation to the significant historical and recreational amenities of Fort Monroe. Through the adaptive reuse of an original Beaux Arts Style building, which was first built as a Library in 1909 by the Coast Artillery Schools, the Visitor Center will complement the existing Casemate Museum.
With visitor amenities, galleries, a gift shop, information desk, archives and multi-purpose space it will also feature exhibits that include the First Arrival story and the Contraband Camp at Fort Monroe, which housed escaped slaves through the period of the Civil War. An August 2019 preview is planned.
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HOST A CELEBRATION TO REMEMBER
at The Commanding General’s Residence & Garden
Special occasions call for gracious entertaining, and the perfect venue for your event is the historic Commanding General’s Residence & Garden at Fort Monroe.
Built in the early 20th century in the Classic Revival style, this stunning brick home, along with its spectacular garden, provides the perfect backdrop for special memories.
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FORT MONROE WATERFRONT PARK
On February 9, 2016, the Fort Monroe Authority held a public forum to present the conceptual plans for a Waterfront Park at Fort Monroe. The plan consists of several individual park spaces along the Fort Monroe waterfront. These spaces will include sites such as Continental Park, the Kayak Launch Area, Outlook Beach, and the entrance to Fort Monroe.
View the PDF of the Waterfront Park presentation.
To provide additional comments or questions, contact comments@fortmonroe.org
FORT MONROE MASTER PLAN APPROVED BY GOVERNOR
Preserve the Property, Tell the Stories and Make Fort Monroe Economically Sustainable
The Fort Monroe Authority is pleased to announce that the Governor of Virginia has approved the Master Plan developed for the 565-acres of Fort Monroe. The Master Plan focuses on a mixed use concept, combining adaptive reuse, new construction and open space. The plan features residential, retail/dining, hospitality, employment and institutional areas, along with enhanced public access to the waterfront and beach.
The final presentation, which was given to the Board of Directors on October 24, 2013, sets the design standards for all new construction on the property. “The final product is a milestone in the history of Fort Monroe and establishes a pattern for the future of the property,” said Glenn Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority. Throughout the two and a half years of development, there were three main goals guiding master planners Sasaki Associates – preserve the property, tell the stories of Fort Monroe and make Fort Monroe economically sustainable.
Click here to view the final presentation of the Master Plan.
Click here to read Governor McDonnell’s letter of approval.