Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 11/05/1968
NRHP Listing Date 11/25/1969
NRHP Reference Number 69000339
Originally known as Fort Calhoun, this forbidding island defense work was begun in 1819, along with Fort Monroe opposite, to protect the entrance to Hampton Roads harbor. Robert E. Lee, then an army engineer, supervised its completion in the 1830s. Its name was changed to Fort Wool in 1862 in honor of Maj. Gen. John Wool, commandant of fortifications at Hampton Roads. From Fort Wool, President Lincoln watched the embarkation of Union troops to seize Norfolk. Abandoned in 1886, the fort was reactivated and expanded during both world wars so that it now possesses a variety of military engineering works. Conspicuous among them are the sinister World War II watchtowers. The fort was abandoned once again in 1953, with ownership reverting to the Commonwealth. In 1985, the fort was deeded by the state to the city of Hampton, which has opened it to limited visitation.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: October 26, 2020
