Kingdom by the Sea - Fortress Monroe

"It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea_" begins Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, "Annabel Lee." Poe was stationed at Fort Monroe during his tenure in the military and returned later in life, seeking respite at the Hotel Hygeia. It’s said that the inspiration for "Annabel Lee" came from his time at Fort Monroe.

Named Point Comfort in 1607 by the Jamestown colonists, the site has played a significant role in American history. Throughout the colonial period, a series of fortifications guarded the Hampton Roads waterways, but none lasted long until the impregnable Fort Monroe was built between 1819 and 1834.

Currently serving as a U.S. Army Training Doctrine and Command, the Department of Defense and the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission has ordered Fort Monroe closed by 2011.

A state appointed Federal Area Development Authority or FADA has been authorized to decide the future of Fort Monroe, but a passionate community debate rages. Should it be Hampton Roads’ hottest new urban village, a retreat for veterans, a green business park for think tanks and clean companies, or a National Park?

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