Fort Myer

Fort Myer was the former name of an important U.S. Army post located in Arlington County, Virginia, right next to Arlington National Cemetery and across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.. It was created during the American Civil War as two separate forts called Fort Cass and Fort Whipple. Over time, it grew into a key military installation.

In 2005, Fort Myer merged with a nearby Marine Corps base called Henderson Hall. Together, they became a single location known as Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall. This base remains an important part of the U.S. military today, serving many important functions for both the Army and the Marine Corps.

If you're looking for a city in Florida, it's called Fort Myers, Florida, and if you're interested in a construction company, that's Fort Myer Construction.

History

In 1861, the land that would become Fort Myer was part of the Arlington estate, owned by Mary Anna Custis Lee, the wife of Robert E. Lee. When the Civil War began, Virginia seceded from the United States, and Lee left the estate. The United States Government took over the estate, using it as a burial ground for Union soldiers and building forts for defense.

Fort Cass was built in August 1861 after a Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. It was one of the first fortifications along the Arlington Line and had a perimeter of 288 yards with places for 12 guns. Fort Whipple was constructed in the spring of 1863 after another Union defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run. It was named after General Amiel Weeks Whipple and had a perimeter of 658 yards with places for 43 guns. In 1881, the post containing Fort Whipple was renamed Fort Myer to honor Brigadier General Albert J. Myer, who had led the Signal School there. Fort Myer became known for its Signal Corps activities, cavalry showcases, and elite ceremonial units like the United States Army Band and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.

Fort Myer was also the site of the first airplane flight at a military installation in 1908 by Orville Wright. The National Weather Service began there in 1870, and the first radio telecommunications station was established nearby in 1913. During World War I, Fort Myer served as a training area for troops. In 2005, Fort Myer merged with Henderson Hall to become Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, one of the first joint bases under the Department of Defense.

Main article: Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall

Commemorative

Fort Myer was named a National Historic Landmark in 1972 because of its well-preserved buildings and its role in military history, especially in aviation. In 1970, the United States Postal Service made a special postcard to celebrate 100 years of weather services at Fort Myer.

Two books have been written about Fort Myer. One of them, Images of America: Fort Myer, includes a handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln appointing General Whipple’s oldest son to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.