Fort Story

Fort Story. Fort Story is a former United States Army installation located at Cape Henry in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Established in 1914, the coastal defense fort played a significant role in protecting the strategic entrance to the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Hampton Roads. It was later used for amphibious and logistical training before its eventual closure.

History

The site's military significance dates to the American Revolutionary War, when the Battle of the Chesapeake occurred offshore. The fort itself was established in 1914 as part of the Endicott program of coastal fortification, named for General John H. Story. During World War I, it was equipped with batteries of disappearing guns and mortars to defend against potential German naval threats. In World War II, its defenses were modernized with 16-inch gun batteries and radar installations to guard against German U-boats operating along the East Coast of the United States. Following the war, the fort's mission shifted from coastal artillery to support and training.

Geography and facilities

The installation occupies over 1,400 acres on a peninsula at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, adjacent to the First Landing Cross memorial. Its terrain includes rare coastal dunes, beaches, and a historic lighthouse—the Cape Henry Lighthouse, authorized by the first United States Congress and completed in 1792. Key military facilities included ammunition wharves, extensive barracks, and the distinctive Fire Control Tower No. 5, used for directing artillery. The area is also part of the Joint Expeditionary Base–Little Creek–Fort Story, a United States Navy command.

Military units and operations

For decades, the fort was home to the 11th Transportation Battalion and other elements of the 7th Transportation Brigade, specializing in amphibious warfare and port operations. It served as a premier training ground for logistics over-the-shore operations, involving units like the 10th Mountain Division and the 101st Airborne Division. Major exercises, including Operation Bright Star, were staged from its beaches. The fort also supported the Military Sealift Command and hosted United States Coast Guard detachments for search and rescue missions in the Atlantic Ocean.

Decommissioning and future use

As part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the United States Department of Defense recommended the fort's closure. Its army functions were largely consolidated with the adjacent Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in 2010 to form the Joint Expeditionary Base–Little Creek–Fort Story. The Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Virginia Beach have since been involved in planning for the reuse of portions of the property, with discussions focusing on public park space, historic preservation of the Cape Henry Lighthouse, and potential collaboration with NASA for aerospace research.

Category:Closed installations of the United States Army Category:Virginia Beach, Virginia Category:Forts in Virginia