Fort Monroe was fortified extensively during the Civil War and was held by the Union Army throughout the conflict. Although never attacked, several important events occurred such as the 1861 Contraband Decision and the planning of the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. Known as Freedom’s Fortress thousands of self-emancipating individuals came to the area. Many supported the war efforts through work and service in the Army and Navy. Camp Hamilton, in present day Phoebus, increased in size quickly and Fort Monroe became an important logistical hub, providing transportation of equipment and troops to and from the area as well as building extensive hospital facilities to treat the wounded from nearby battles.

Fort Monroe continued to be strategically important in the ensuing decades. It was home of the Coast Artillery Corps, and its guns were permanently mounted in the new Endicott Batteries at the water’s edge. The fort was active during all major conflicts of the 20th Century. The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command was ultimately responsible for the transition of the site from the U.S. Government to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2011, Fort Monroe ceased to be a military post and shortly afterwards the Fort Monroe National Monument was established. Today, the 540-acres are managed through a partnership between the Fort Monroe Authority, the National Park Service, and the City of Hampton.