Rip Raps facts for kids
Rip Raps is a small, man-made island located in Hampton Roads, Virginia. It's about 15 acres in size, which is like 11 football fields! This island sits right at the entrance of the harbor, near the city of Hampton. Its name comes from the Rip Rap Shoals, which are shallow areas in the water nearby. In 2020, Rip Raps became a special place for birds, a bird sanctuary, and is no longer open to the public for regular visits.
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Island History
Rip Raps was first built in 1817. Its main purpose was to help protect the important harbor of Hampton Roads. It was part of a defense system that included two large forts.
Forts Protecting the Harbor
The island was created to be a base for Fort Wool. This fort was built in 1830 and was originally called Fort Calhoun. It was later rebuilt and renamed in 1902. Fort Wool worked together with Fort Monroe, which was located on the northern side of the channel. Together, these forts helped guard the entrance to Hampton Roads. They even used an anti-submarine net to protect the area during wars.
Post-War Changes
After World War II, Fort Wool was no longer needed for defense. It was officially taken out of service. In 1967, the fort and the island were given to the state of Virginia. Later, they were transferred to the city of Hampton, Virginia.
Presidential Visits
An interesting fact about Rip Raps is that Andrew Jackson, who was the President of the United States, used it as a quiet place to visit. He came to the island several times between 1829 and 1835.
Modern Access and Purpose
Today, Rip Raps is located very close to one of the man-made islands that are part of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. This bridge-tunnel was first opened in 1957. While the bridge-tunnel is for cars, Rip Raps and Fort Wool can only be reached by boat. As of 2020, Rip Raps has been turned into a bird sanctuary. This means it's a safe home for many different kinds of birds. Because it's now a sanctuary, regular public visits to the island have stopped.
