Fort Norfolk

The oldest surviving fort in the United States (authorized 1794, built 1795–1800), Fort Norfolk stands on the Elizabeth River waterfront at the site where Revolutionary-era fortification was first proposed. During the Revolution, the waterfront here was the location of the HMS Fowey and other British warships from which Lord Dunmore conducted his floating government in 1775–76. The fort built after the Revolution replaced the informal defensive positions used during the war. It is the best surviving physical anchor for understanding the Norfolk waterfront that Dunmore controlled and that was burned on January 1, 1776.