Craney Island (Virginia) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Craney Island

Craney Island Blockhouse during the War of 1812
Craney Island Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Craney Island Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Geography
Location	Elizabeth River
Coordinates	36°53′33″N 76°21′34″W / 36.89250°N 76.35944°W / 36.89250; -76.35944
Total islands	1
Administration
United States
State	Virginia
City	City of Portsmouth
Demographics
Population	none

Map of the Battle of Craney Island

Craney Island Light; this structure stood 1884–1936

Craney Island is a piece of land in Portsmouth, a city in eastern Virginia, United States. It's located near the mouth of the Elizabeth River. This area is important because it's close to Hampton Roads, a large natural harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Craney Island today.

Discovering Craney Island's Past

Why is it Called Craney Island?

The name "Craney Island" comes from early English settlers. In the 1600s, they saw many large birds there. They thought these birds were cranes. So, they called the place "Crayne" or "Craney Point." Actually, the birds were white and blue herons. You can still see herons in the Hampton Roads area today.

Craney Island's Role in Wars

Craney Island is located right at the entrance to the Elizabeth River. This made it a very important spot during two major conflicts:

• The War of 1812
• The American Civil War

Craney Island in the War of 1812

Building the Craney Island Fort

During the War of 1812, the U.S. government built a fort on Craney Island. It was called the Craney Island Fort. It was finished in early 1813. The fort had a long earthwork (a wall made of earth). This earthwork connected a main battery (where cannons were placed) to an outer battery and a blockhouse (a small fort). By June 1813, the fort had several cannons.

The Battle of Craney Island

On June 22, 1813, a big fight happened here, known as the Battle of Craney Island.

• About 730 American soldiers, sailors, and marines defended the fort.
• They faced a much larger British force of 2,500 troops.
• The Americans won the battle!
• 81 British troops were killed, wounded, or captured.
• The Americans had no losses.

This victory was very important. It stopped the British from capturing and destroying Norfolk and Portsmouth. However, the British later burned the nearby city of Hampton, Virginia, which had no forts.

After the Battle

Even though the British lost at Craney Island, they continued their attacks. In 1814, they sailed up Chesapeake Bay. They burned Washington, D.C. and attacked Baltimore. There were no forts guarding the mouth of the bay then. This led to the building of Fort Monroe in the 1820s. This new fort was built to protect the bay from enemy ships. The Craney Island Fort was left empty after 1820.

Craney Island's Lighthouses

The First U.S. Lightship

In 1820, the first U.S. lightship (a ship with a light to guide other ships) was placed in Hampton Roads. It was first at Willoughby Spit. But the weather was too rough there. So, it was moved to Craney Island. It stayed there until 1859.

Later Lighthouses

• A lighthouse replaced the lightship in 1859.
• In 1884, a new hexagonal (six-sided) screwpile lighthouse was built. This was the Craney Island Light.
• It guided ships until 1936.
• Then, an automated light was placed on the old foundation.
• In the 1970s, a simple buoy replaced this light.

A lightship named Portsmouth is now at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. It reminds people of the first lightship at Craney Island.

Craney Island in the Civil War

Confederate Control

At the start of the American Civil War (1861–1865), the important Gosport Shipyard fell into Confederate hands. This shipyard was upstream from Craney Island. The Confederates built a 20-gun battery on Craney Island.

The CSS Virginia

The first Confederate ironclad warship, the CSS Virginia, was built at the Gosport Shipyard. It was made from the old USS Merrimack. The Virginia was kept near Craney Island. On March 9, 1862, it fought the first Union ironclad, the USS Monitor. This famous battle was called the Battle of Hampton Roads. Neither ship could defeat the other.

The End of the CSS Virginia

Only two months later, Union forces were about to take back Norfolk and Portsmouth. To prevent the Virginia from being captured, its crew deliberately ran it aground near Craney Island. They then burned the ship on May 11, 1862.

Craney Island Today

Industrial Use and Nature

Today, Craney Island is an industrial area. Since 1957, it has been used to place materials dug up from the water (dredged materials). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still operates it. A large fueling station for the United States Navy is also nearby.

The Corps of Engineers staff has done a great job protecting the island's wildlife. It's a very important home for many birds, including:

• Piping plover
• Least terns
• Brown pelicans
• Osprey

These birds are often threatened or endangered species. Members of the Audubon Society love to visit the island for bird watching.

Viewing Craney Island

You can see Craney Island from several places:

• From Interstate 664 traffic crossing Hampton Roads on the Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel.
• From Old Dominion University, which is across the Elizabeth River.

There are plans for a new road project, the "Third Crossing", to go across Craney Island.

Virginia Historical Marker K-258, which talks about the Battle of Craney Island, is located near the entrance to Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve.