President Andrew Jackson made Fort Calhoun his "White House." Calhoun became Jackson's enemy when he threatened to pull out of the Union over state;s rights. Jackson had a hut built for him and watched ships sailing on the Chesapeake Bay from his advantage point.
He also had policy discussions with cabinet members on the island.
President John Tyler lived there after the death of his second wife. Lincoln also visited the fort which remained only half built during the Civil War. Soon after the Battle of Hampton Roads (Monitor versus Virginia), the federal government renamed the fort after Gen. John Ellis Wool, commander of Fort Monroe.
Actor Sir Alec Guinness ran into a minefield off the fort during World War II and comedian Red Skelton entertained troops there. Much of the original fort was replaced by a concrete one built in the early 20th century.
Between 10,000 and 12,000 visit the fort each year.
I'd Actually Never Heard of the Fort Before This. --Old B-Runner
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