Historic Landmark Revisited

Yesterday evening the boyfriend and I went to a wonderful reception put on by one of his friends for her elderly parents at The Chamberlain in Hampton, Virginia. The Chamberlain was a grand hotel for many decades (and the only civilian structure on historic Fort Monroe - pictured below - which juts out into the mouth of Hampton Roads harbor) but had fallen on hard times as high end vacationers tended to prefer ocean front resorts and more exotic destinations. Fortunately, the Chamberlain was saved and now offers high end apartments for senior citizens in a truly elegant and magnificent setting with nearly a 360 degree view of water vistas. The reception was in the solarium on the top floor which can be seen at left. The sunset from the large roof top patio was absolutely incredible and we had a great time.

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For the history buffs, here are some interesting facts about Fort Monro which will soon cease to be an active military installation via Wikipedia:

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Fort Monre was completed in 1834 and was named in honor of U.S. President James Monroe. Throughout the American Civil War (1861-1865), although most of Virginia became part of the Confederate States of America, Fort Monroe remained in Union hands. Completely surrounded by a moat, the six-sided stone fort is the only one of its kind left in the United States that is still an active Army post. Fort Monroe is one of several posts selected to be closed by September 2011. Many of its functions are being transferred to nearby Fort Eustis (which itself was named for Fort Monroe's first commander, General Abraham Eustis, a noted artillery expert). Several re-use plans for Fort Monroe after it is decommissioned are currently under development in the Hampton community.

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Fort Monroe has become a popular historical site. The Casemate Museum, opened in 1951, depicts the history of Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort, with special emphasis on the Civil War period. It offers a view of Confederate President Jefferson Davis' prison cell. Also shown are the quarters occupied by 1st Lt. Robert E. Lee in 1831-34, and the quarters where President Abraham Lincoln was a guest in May, 1862.