Inside the Fort

Back to February and a visit to a Fortress.
Mid February we took a drive back to Fort Monroe and this time instead of seeing just the outside parameter, we decided to go inside.

Interesting place.  Driving around to the gate to see inside the Fortress.

Located in Hampton Virginia, a decommissioned military installation.
Virginia's Peninsulas Southern tip.
Completed in 1834 and named in honor of James Monroe.
History explained → https://fortmonroe.org/about/fort-monroe/history/
 
  Definitely worth taking the time to read.  Hi lite address, copy and paste in browser.

To the inside of the fort

We stopped at the Chapel of the Centurion first before we took in other sites inside.

The army's oldest wooden structure in continuous use.  Named after the Roman Centurion, Cornelius.
Beautiful wooden cross

Stained glass window that is now in the museum we toured at the Fortress

explanation of the window

Next some historical quarters like this one

Some restoration going on and I had to zoom in to see the ceiling and the doorway

A short clip of this place showing more of the house

Now the big gun

I couldn't get over how big this thing was.  Huge.

A walk around it in this short clip

Onto the casement museum which is a series of interconnected casements. Vaulted chambers that are within the forts walls.

Passing by the casement Jefferson Davis was held

video of entrance to casement and of the cistern

We are cautioned as we enter that the archways are low.  The average size of soldiers manning guns like the ones we see here were average 5'8" tall and 143 1/2 pounds in weight.

Early days

 Early days

Strength of the fort

Steve walked to Flagstaff Bastion

From top of Fort.

Nine stories and sits on Fort Monroe.  The Chamberlin was once a hotel.  Today a retirement community.  It overlooks Hampton Roads at Old Point Comfort.

I zoomed in a little closer

From the top is Old Point Comfort Lighthouse

Checking out this barge going by from the top

This is a steep climb from the inside for sure.  But such a neat look over the water from the top.

Saturday

Steve's birthday was Saturday.  We had dinner and of course cake and ice cream.  The children loved showing off their cards they made Opa.  So cute were they and they both went into detail on how they made them.

this one was Adalyns

Adalyn on the right and Genevieve on the left.  Miranda lighting candles.

Genevieve's card. She always draws a happy sun on hers.

It was a rainy day but I still got to pick a few roses and this tea rose moved here with me from our other house in 2007.  Still is doing fine.  I have to really give it a good cutting to the ground at times.  Still blooms pretty.

There were two of them

Yes, this little gal has taken up space in the chair in the living room with the girls.  

Love those big eyes.

Happy Mothers Day

A pretty vase of flowers Miranda brought me from She and Derek and the girls. 

The grand girls made me a card that is so sweet too.

The roses in the container are from Mirandas garden

Rainy Sunday Flowers

I picked from several flowers in the yard to bring in and scent the house while they can.  Some of the Peonies are starting to lose their petals. 

I don't know what this large shrub is called but it is highly scented. I got a few peony flowers from the row at the drive.

Beautiful little flower

a few from one of the last pretty bloomers of azaleas

I tried to get  a picture of how large the trunk is on this one.  I managed to pull up  few limbs that rooted that were hanging on the ground.

These few do scent the downstairs.

I love Peonies

Just outside the window on side of door.  Geraniums are doing well.  Oh, I see I need to remove price tag.  Oh well.

My glass candle holder that I use with the glass frog I found at a vintage sale

Fireplace Mantle - Thinking I would love to get rid of that giant mirror. May frame it instead. Not reflecting anything I really enjoy looking at.

The porch

Table in living room.  Yes, that's Santa on his side.  Kids haven't given him up yet.

Happy Monday. Still posting from chrome book so I hope this comes through o.k.  Hopefully I will use the P.C. next time.  I am more comfortable with that.