Fort Norfolk (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Norfolk |
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Plan of Fort Norfolk in 1860
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| Type | Star fort |
| Site information | |
| Owner | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
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Fort Norfolk
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 803 Front St., Norfolk, Virginia |
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1794 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002225 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1976 |
| Condition | intact and occupied |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1775 (temporary battery) 1794–1795 (earthwork fort) 1807–1809 (masonry fort) |
| Built by | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1795–present |
| Materials | Stone, brick, earth |
| Battles/wars | American Revolution War of 1812 American Civil War |
Fort Norfolk is a really old and important fort in Norfolk, Virginia. It's a special place called a historic district. The first buildings were put up between 1795 and 1809. Today, the fort has 11 buildings, including a main gate, a guardhouse, and a place where officers lived.
This fort is the last one left from President George Washington's plan to protect harbors in the 1700s. Since 1923, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has used it as an office.
Fort Norfolk was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It became a Virginia Landmark in 2013. Now, it's kept safe as a historic site. You can even visit it during the summer!
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Fort Norfolk's Role in the American Revolution
Even before it was officially Fort Norfolk, this spot was used for defense. During the American Revolutionary War, people in Norfolk built a temporary battery here. A battery is a place where cannons are set up.
The fort was placed where the Elizabeth River gets narrow. It worked with another fort, Fort Nelson, across the river in Portsmouth. Together, they could fire cannons from both sides at enemy ships. This was meant to stop ships from attacking Norfolk or the Gosport Navy Yard.
However, these early defenses weren't strong enough. On January 1, 1776, British ships led by Lord Dunmore attacked Norfolk. This event is known as the Burning of Norfolk. Many people who supported the British had already left the city. American Patriot soldiers tried to fight back but couldn't stop the fires.
Building a Stronger Fort
In 1794, the U.S. Congress gave President George Washington permission to build forts. These forts would protect American harbors along the "Maritime Frontier." This plan was later called the "first system of US fortifications."
By 1795, Fort Norfolk was mostly built. It first had walls made of earth, supported by wood or brick. The fort's northern, eastern, and southern sides were shaped like a star fort. This design, inspired by a French engineer named Vauban, made it harder for enemies to attack.
The western side of the fort, facing the river, was shaped like a half-moon. This part is called a semicircular bastion. It was an experimental design meant to hold as many cannons as possible to fire at ships. Since this side faced the river, it was safe from land attacks.
In 1797, only a few people, called caretakers, looked after the fort. But in 1798, a company of soldiers was sent to the fort. This was because of the Quasi-War with France, which was a small, undeclared naval war. By 1799, this company guarded both Fort Norfolk and Fort Nelson.
Fort Norfolk During the War of 1812
Between 1807 and 1809, Fort Norfolk was completely rebuilt. It was made with strong stone and brick walls. This new fort could hold 30 cannons and had barracks for two companies of soldiers. This was part of the "second system of US fortifications."
The fort's sea wall was made 12 feet high and 20 feet thick. The eastern and northern sides still looked like a star fort. A new triangular defense, called a ravelin, was added to the east. This helped protect the fort from land attacks and shielded the Officers' Quarters.
The fort had nine powerful 18-pounder cannons. It also stored lots of gunpowder and cannonballs. Although Fort Norfolk itself never saw direct fighting, it was ready for action during the War of 1812.
To stop British ships, a long, heavy chain was stretched across the river. It went from Fort Norfolk to Fort Nelson. This chain was meant to block the British Fleet from reaching the Gosport Navy Yard, Norfolk, or Portsmouth.
During the war, soldiers from Fort Norfolk were sent to help defend Craney Island. They fought in the Battle of Craney Island, where the British were defeated. Even though the British didn't enter Norfolk, they later went on to burn Washington, D.C.. They also tried to attack Baltimore.
By the 1830s, a much larger fort, Fort Monroe, was built at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. This new fort made Fort Norfolk less important for defense. Fort Norfolk was no longer used by soldiers and slowly started to fall apart.
Fort Norfolk in the Civil War
Before the American Civil War, a naval powder magazine was added to Fort Norfolk. This was between 1849 and 1856. A powder magazine is a safe place to store ammunition. It was used to prepare and store supplies for ships built at the Gosport Navy Yard.
When Virginia left the Union on April 17, 1861, the Union Army had to leave Norfolk. The Confederate Army took over Norfolk and Fort Norfolk on April 21. They used the fort to defend the shipyard.
The fort's new powder magazine supplied Confederate ships. These ships tried to break the Union blockade on Hampton Roads. One famous battle was the Battle of Hampton Roads. This was where the ironclad ships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia fought.
In May 1862, the Union Army returned and took back Fort Norfolk. They used the fort as a prison for captured Confederate blockade runners. These were ships that tried to sneak past the Union blockade.
The Army Corps of Engineers and Today
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved into Fort Norfolk in 1923. They used the fort as offices to plan engineering projects for the East Coast. During World War II, the fort continued to be used for offices. Old brick buildings were fixed up, and a new office building was added.
In 1983, a new Army Corps of Engineers building was built next to the fort. However, they still have offices inside the historic fort. Since 1991, the Norfolk Historical Society has worked with the Army Corps of Engineers. They have helped restore the fort and offer tours to the public.
Fort Norfolk Timeline
- 1776: The Commonwealth of Virginia first sets up a defense at Fort Norfolk.
- 1794: Congress allows President George Washington to build forts, including Fort Norfolk.
- 1810: Brick walls and most buildings are completed.
- 1813: On June 22, soldiers from the fort help fight in the Battle of Craney Island.
- 1834: After Fort Monroe is built, the government stops using Fort Norfolk.
- 1850: The U.S. Navy turns the fort into an ammunition depot.
- 1856: A large new magazine for ammunition is finished.
- 1861: Confederate General Taliaferro takes command of the fort as the Civil War begins.
- 1862: The Union Army takes over Fort Norfolk and uses it as a prison.
- 1863: The fort is returned to the U.S. Navy for storing ammunition.
- 1880: The Navy leaves the fort.
- 1921: The Army Corps of Engineers moves into the fort.
- 1983: The Army Corps of Engineers moves to a new building nearby.
- 1992: Fort Norfolk opens to the public for tours.
See also
