Fort Monroe National Monument

In 1819, following the conflagration of Washington D.C. during the War of 1812, President James Monroe ordered his War Department to build a network of coastal defenses along the East Coast of the United States. With recommendation of General Lafayette in France, the United States contracted brevetted Brigadier General of Engineers, Simon Bernard, formerly a French brigadier general of engineers and aide to Napoleon, to construct this network of defenses and it was he who designed this fort which took 15 years to construct.

In Hampton, Virginia, Fort Monroe is the largest stone fort ever built in the United States and the only moat-encircled fort which remains in active duty. This site is maintained today by the National Park Services and the Fort Monroe Authority. The James Monroe Memorial Foundation maintains regular representation in a partnership to support the Fort Monroe Authority at this historic national landmark, and representation is as follows:

Fort Monroe Liaison: G. Mark Walsh
Fort Monroe Assistant Liaison: James Wright