150 years later we reflect on the American Civil War

This year marks the official beginning of the remembrance of the War Between the States. Hampton, a key settlement since its founding in 1610, played an integral role in the conflict that would permanently change our nation on so many levels. Few communities have such a wealth of sites that influenced the outcome of the Civil War. As Fort Monroe embarks on the transition from U.S. Army post to national park, we discover new opportunities to visit and explore.

There are many tools available to visitors who wish to stand where Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Butler, Jefferson Davis, Harriet Tubman, and Robert E. Lee once tread. Of course, the Hampton Visitor Guide highlights everything to see and do in Hampton, so the guide is a must! There's also a new Hampton Civil War Sites Guide available at the Hampton Visitor Center that brings the aspiring Civil War buff even closer to the Battle of Big Bethel, the Peninsula Campaign, Benjamin Butler's Contraband Decision, and the Battle of the Ironclads.

Once you're out and about exploring you may want to take advantage of a narrated tour. The Hampton History Museum and the Casemate Museum have entertaining and informative docents who help bring history to life. If you prefer a go-at-your-own pace walking experience, you may find the Discover Hampton Fort Monroe iPod Tour more to your liking. Download the tour to your iPod free here at visithampton.com. Hampton's Civil War heritage is also interpreted through Civil War Trails and heritage markers located throughout the city.

Whether visiting the casemate where Jefferson Davis was confined or standing atop Fort Wool's ramparts where President Abraham Lincoln once stood, Hampton's Civil War experience is filled with interpreted historic sites that prompt us to reflect and appreciate our great nation today.