This historic fort played a crucial role in the Civil War, and was a prison for Jefferson Davis. Fort Monroe is famous for the contraband decision, or Fort Monroe Doctrine. This action taken by the commander at the fort stated that escaped slaves from the Confederacy would not be returned.
Fort Monroe was also the location of several artillery schools for the U.S. military. This short documentary gives an overview of the history of the fort, and how it got the name Freedom's Fortress.