Virginia Capes facts for kids
The Virginia Capes are two important pieces of land that mark the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. On the north side is Cape Charles, and on the south side is Cape Henry. These capes are located on the eastern coast of North America. They are like natural gateposts for one of the biggest bays in the United States.
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History of the Virginia Capes
The Virginia Capes have played a big role in American history for a long time.
Early History
In 1610, a supply ship landed at Cape Henry. The people on board learned about a terrible famine at Jamestown. This was an early English settlement in America.
American Revolutionary War
The Chesapeake Bay was very important during the American Revolutionary War. A major naval battle, called the Battle of the Chesapeake, happened near the Capes. This battle was a key part of the American victory at the siege of Yorktown. The victory at Yorktown effectively ended the American Revolutionary War.
Because of this, the area around the Capes became very important for defense. In 1819, two forts were built: Fort Monroe and Fort Wool. These forts helped protect the entrance to the bay.
American Civil War
During the American Civil War, another important battle took place in Hampton Roads. This was near the Capes. It was a famous fight between two ironclad warships: the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. The Virginia was trying to break a naval blockade. This blockade was set up by the Union (the North) to stop supplies from reaching the Confederacy (the South).
World Wars
The Virginia Capes continued to be important for defense in later wars.
World War I
During World War I, more gun batteries were added. These were placed at Fort Story on Cape Henry. More batteries were also put on Fisherman's Island near Cape Charles.
World War II
In World War II, the defense of the Capes grew even more. The coast artillery batteries at Fort Story were made larger. New batteries were also installed at Fort John Custis on Cape Charles. All these defenses were there to guard the entrance to Hampton Roads Harbor.
The Capes Today
Today, the area around the Virginia Capes is still very important for the military. Many military bases are located nearby. These include Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story, and NAS Oceana. There are also major shipyards like the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Newport News Shipbuilding.
Because of all these military facilities, the Capes area is often used for important activities. New Navy ships have their first tests here. The area is also used for military training exercises.
