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Some historic sites help tell us who we are.

Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, is one of those places. Known as “Freedom’s Fortress,” the site marks both the origins of slavery from the 1619 arrival of the first enslaved Africans to its ending with the thousands of enslaved people who secured their freedom there during the Civil War. Today, it’s Virginia’s only UNESCO Site of Memory.

Now, you can help shape its future!

The Fort Monroe Authority is gathering public input to help shape how future generations experience, understand, and connect with this nationally significant site.

Please take a few minutes to make your voice heard. Don't delay: the survey closes on June 30.

The National Trust has been involved with Fort Monroe for over two decades as a participant and collaborator in preservation-based reuse planning, establishing the National Monument, and providing funding support through our African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Over the years, the National Trust has worked closely with the Fort Monroe Authority, National Park Service, Preservation Virginia, American Battlefield Trust, National Parks Conservation Association, and many local groups. In recognition of Fort Monroe’s rich history, the National Trust is committed to continuing to champion and preserve this National Historic Landmark and its stories of hope, resilience, and freedom.