Fort Monroe National Monument

Edward Alfred Pollard

John Ericsson

Jubal Early

Major General Benjamin F. Butler

Mary Smith Peake

Nelson Miles

Thomas Lincoln Casey

View the national recipient of this inaugural award created to recognize expertise within the field of education.

The first ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived at Old Point Comfort on August 25, 1619. An English privateer ship captured them from a Spanish slave ship. The privateer traded the enslaved Africans to English colonists in Virginia for food.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, it is equally important to recognize the role that the enslaved had in their own emancipation. The National Park Service has the honor of protecting sacred places and histories for the American people, many of which explore enslavement, emancipation, and the fight for equality that are integral to the American experience.

The National Park Service recently announced a pilot education program connecting every fourth and fifth grade student in Hampton, Virginia with the area’s natural resources and cultural history as the recipient of the award on behalf of the Northeast region. The program now qualifies for the national award, the highest award presented to a team or individual in the education field, to be announced in August.

In the early months of the Civil War, slaves were fleeing to Union lines seeking freedom but emancipation was not yet a stated war aim of President Lincoln. At Fort Monroe, General Benjamin Butler came up with a creative solution to this difficult situation.

Fort Monroe National Monument, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, preserves the landscape associated with both the beginning of slavery in England's American Colonies and the end of slavery in the United States. Within the moated walls of the fort, a large parade ground is bordered by historic buildings and a collection of mature live oak trees. One of these is estimated to be almost 500 year old, making it a living witness to events that shaped the nation.

Located in southeastern Virginia, Fort Monroe National Monument stands at the heart of Hampton Roads on the Chesapeake Bay. Whether your interest lies in history, culture, the natural world, or recreational activities, Fort Monroe and the surrounding area provide much to experience!

During the Civil War, over 400,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were held prisoner at more than 150 diff erent prison sites. Approximately 56,000 of these died in captivity. Although Andersonville is the most famous Civil War prison, it is only one of many Civil War military prisons that are preserved by the National Park Service.