Hampton traces its historic roots to Old Point Comfort, where Fort Monroe has stood along the shores of the region since 1834. Like many other coastal towns, early Colonial settlers recognized the need to protect the area from invaders. They chose a spot that would be advantageous in the case of an attack, guarding the channel between the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads waterways.
Old Point Comfort was one of the first places explored by English colonists in the New World, identified for its strategic location in 1607. The early fortifications were improved upon over the centuries, but the existing Fort Monroe structures were some of the most impregnable of the time, taking over 25 years to complete the 170 structures within and becoming the largest stone fort ever to be erected in America.
The historic St. John's Episcopal Church was established in 1610, but would be periodically rebuilt in several spots around Hampton before the parish identified the current location in 1728. The church sustained damage during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, but kept rebuilding after peace was attained. During the Civil War, widespread fires resulted in catastrophic damage to the town, and the church was the only Colonial-era structure to survive in downtown Hampton. Restorations began immediately after the war and finished in 1870. Several additions were made to the structure during the 20th century, but the historic integrity of the ancient church has been carefully preserved to reflect its importance in Virginia history. In addition to the building’s significance, the church uses the oldest communion silver in America—an English set that dates back to 1618.
While Hampton has some celebrated historic achievements, the area is also a tragic point in American history. The first Africans were brought to the shores of North America in Hampton in 1619, marking the start of slavery on the continent. For nearly 250 years, generations of Black people would be enslaved. When the Civil War began, Fort Monroe remained in the Union Army’s control, and President Lincoln ordered the fort reinforced to ensure the important military site was not overrun by the surrounding Confederate forces. General Butler, the Union general in charge of the fort, decreed that any enslaved person who arrived on the construct grounds would be considered “contraband” and would not be returned to bondage. This decision proved to be momentous; thousands of people would flee to the Union lines of Fort Monroe, gaining safety and freedom from their oppressors.
This dark period of United States history would also bring about a moment of strength for the Black community. After the Confederate army evacuated at the end of the Civil War, Hampton became home to what was termed the “Grand Contraband Camp,” the first self-contained Black community in the United States.
These newly freed persons worked together to support each other and provide an education for future generations of Black Americans, leading to the 1868 establishment of Hampton University. The historic college allowed the emancipated slaves to further their education, as well as serving Native Americans in the area that were previously denied access to education. Stop by the college today and visit the Emancipation Oak, a historic tree on the college campus with limbs that span over 98 feet in diameter, designated one of the “10 Great Trees of the World” by National Geographic Society.
Notable Historic Sites in Hampton
Learn more about Hampton history.
Where to Stay in Hampton
Stay near the waterfront at the Magnolia House Inn.
Things to Do in Hampton
