2014 Annual Report

Fort Monroe Authority Mission

The Fort Monroe Authority (FMA) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, created to preserve, protect, and manage Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort after the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) closure in September 2011. The Authority is governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees.

From the Chairman and Executive Director

For more than 400 years, this spit of land in the Chesapeake Bay has been the site of historical events that have shaped our country. There have also been many periods of construction and development at Fort Monroe as the property has transitioned into new roles and uses. We are amid one of these periods again as the U.S. Army transfers ownership of Fort Monroe to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This means that we are legislatively mandated to fulfill three objectives: 1) preserve the property, 2) tell the history of Fort Monroe, and 3) move it towards economic sustainability.

Created by the General Assembly in 2010, the Fort Monroe Authority (FMA) is responsible for the planning and reuse of Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort. We are pleased to report that investments are already being made in the properties, buildings, and infrastructure. An estimated 100,000 people visit the property each year, and building leases, special events, and guided tours are bringing revenue growth.

Under the leadership of the 12-member Board of Trustees, and with assistance provided by the National Park Service, the City of Hampton, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the FMA experienced significant successes in 2014. The Casemate Museum is now fully staffed and received more than 800 historic artifacts from the Army Center of Military History. All of the habitable historic homes have been rented and numerous commercial tenants now occupy the properties. Visitors to Fort Monroe enjoyed concerts, weddings, historic ceremonies, fireworks, ghost walks, and home tours.

The Fort Monroe Foundation is a charitable organization that provides grants toward these events through the generous contributions of donors, sponsors, and local giving campaigns. These grants provide the opportunity for people to learn the history of this property while also experiencing the attributes of its location on the Chesapeake Bay.

The FMA has adopted the slogan “Where Freedom Lives!” to describe this historic community. The slogan is inspired by the three slaves­—Frank Baker, Sheppard Mallory, and James Townsend—whose escape from Confederate forces to Fort Monroe paved the way for more than 10,000 slaves to seek their emancipation at Freedom’s Fortress.

We hope that our successes will inspire you to want to join us in our efforts. Volunteers are always welcome at Fort Monroe and donations to the Foundation are greatly appreciated. To learn more, please visit www.fmauthority.com , or call our office for a visit or tour.

John R. Lawson II
Chairman

G. Glenn Oder, ASLA
Executive Director, Fort Monroe Authority