On This Day in Hampton, Virginia History

Hampton is a historical jewel of the Commonwealth. One day at a time, authors Wythe Holt and Edward B. Hicks offer up fascinating stories of the people and events that shaped it. The city's story begins at the origins of Old Point Comfort as early as 1608, long before the American Revolution. The Emancipation Proclamation was first read to the public on the grounds of today's Hampton University under what would soon be called the Emancipation Oak. NASA's Langley Research Center helped send astronauts to space and tested such icons as the Apollo lunar lander. Fort Monroe encompasses nearly two centuries of service to the country as the largest moated fort in North America. Join Holt and Hicks and enjoy the rich historical legacy every day of the year.