Title
Resolution Designating the Restoration of Fort Wool as a Legislative Priority of the City of Hampton, in Order to Request Funding and Restoration by the Commonwealth of Virginia Allowing Reopening Fort Wool to the Public
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Fort Wool (the Fort) has a long and rich history dating back to the 1800s as part of a coastal defense system along with its sister fort, Fort Monroe. Fort Wool was decommissioned in 1953 and ownership reverted to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1967. In 1970, the City of Hampton began leasing the Fort allowing visitation but, in 2020, the Commonwealth closed and repurposed the fort as a temporary seasonal seabird nesting habitat for birds that were nesting on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) before the HRBT widening project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is building an island for relocation of the birds which is anticipated to be complete in 2027. At that time the goal would be for the Fort to be restored by the Commonwealth of Virginia so that it will be suitable for people to visit it and learn of its history. Once the restoration is complete, Hampton would like to reopen it to the public. The City will prepare an assessment report to form the basis for requesting that the Commonwealth fund the necessary restoration work.
Impact:
The ultimate goal of this action is to return Fort Wool to use as a tourist destination and allow guided tours of Fort Wool as soon as practical after it is restored by the Commonwealth and deemed safe for visitors.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, after the War of 1812, the United States government established a system of coastal fortifications to protect the country from future invasions from the sea;
WHEREAS, Fort Calhoun (later known as Fort Wool) was built as part of this coastal defense system along with its sister fort, Fort Monroe, to protect the Hampton Harbor and James River;
WHEREAS, construction of the artificial island began in 1819, and construction of the fort and its casemates in 1826;
WHEREAS, during its service as a military installation, it was used as a summer retreat by Presidents Andrew Jackson and John Tyler;
WHEREAS, during the American Civil War, the Fort’s name was changed to Fort Wool and the Fort played a role in the Battle of the Ironclads and Battle for Sewell’s Point in 1862. President Lincoln was a frequent visitor to Fort Wool during the Civil War;
WHEREAS, Fort Wool was modernized from 1902 to 1908 with the construction of five Endicott Period batteries, and later in 1943 a new 6-inch battery was built to defend Hampton Roads during World War II;
WHEREAS, Fort Wool continued to serve as a vital part of the coastal defense of the United States until it was decommissioned in 1953 and ownership of the property reverted to the Commonwealth of Virginia (the “Commonwealth”) in 1967;
WHEREAS, in 1970, the City of Hampton, Virginia (the “City”), began leasing Fort Wool and opened it up to visitors as a historic site until its closing and repurposing by the Commonwealth as a temporary seasonal seabird nesting habitat for seabirds displaced from the South Island due to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion project which began in 2020;
WHEREAS, Fort Wool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register;
WHEREAS, Fort Wool’s use as a temporary seasonal seabird nesting habitat has been recognized as creating a risk for its continued historic preservation as well denying access to the island for the citizens of Hampton and Virginia;
WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers plans to complete the building of a new island in Hampton Roads by 2027 so the seabird nesting habitat can be relocated from Fort Wool;
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth will then need to restore Fort Wool so that it is, once again, suitable for people to visit it and learn about its history;
WHEREAS, once it has been sufficiently restored by the Commonwealth, it is the desire of the City of Hampton to help manage and reopen Fort Wool to the public;
WHEREAS, after the migratory seabird nesting season ends in August 2024, the City will initiate an assessment of the costs to restore the island’s dock and stabilize the nation’s only remaining WW2 battery commander’s tower, as well as stabilize the Fort’s gun emplacements and casemates to create a Final Assessment Report; and
WHEREAS, this Final Assessment Report will form the basis for requesting that the Commonwealth fund the work necessary to restore Fort Wool so that it can safely reopen to the public.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, that;
1) the Commonwealth of Virginia’s restoration of Fort Wool to the condition it was in prior to it being used as a temporary seasonal seabird nesting habitat by repairing the island’s dock, and stabilizing the unique WW2 BC tower and gun emplacements/casemates is a legislative priority for the City of Hampton;
2) staff is directed to include this legislative priority in the City's annual State and Federal Legislative Priorities, along with the associated funding request based on the Final Assessment Report, with the goal being that Fort Wool will, once again, be safe to open to the public so all people can experience this unique historic asset; and
3) it is the intent of the City of Hampton to, once again, lease, reopen and operate Fort Wool (including a ferry service) as a tourist destination and provide guided tours of Fort Wool as soon as practical after it is restored by the Commonwealth and deemed safe for visitors.