Fort Wool, Military fortress in Hampton Roads Harbor, Virginia.
The artificial island fortress contains two tiers of casemates and defensive structures encompassing eight acres of land at the entrance to Hampton Roads.
Construction of the fort began in 1819 under engineer Simon Bernard, who previously served Napoleon, to defend the Chesapeake Bay after British invasions.
President Abraham Lincoln used Fort Wool as an observation point to monitor Union troop movements and naval operations during the American Civil War.
Visitors can view the fortress from Interstate 64 while crossing the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel or during tours aboard the Miss Hampton II ferry.
The fort stands on Rip Raps shoal, created by dumping rocks from sailing ships entering Hampton harbor, which continued to sink during construction.
Location: Virginia
Inception: 1818
GPS coordinates: 36.98639,-76.30056
Latest update: May 11, 2025 02:09
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