Fort Myer

Fort Myer was the old name of an important U.S. Army post in Arlington County, Virginia. It sits right next to Arlington National Cemetery and across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C..

The post was created during the American Civil War as two smaller forts named Fort Cass and Fort Whipple. Over time, it grew into a big and important military place.

In 2005, Fort Myer joined with a nearby Marine Corps base called Henderson Hall. Together, they became one place called Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall. This base is still very important for the U.S. military today. It helps both the Army and the Marine Corps with many jobs.

If you are thinking of a city in Florida, it is called Fort Myers, Florida. And if you hear about a construction company, that is Fort Myer Construction.

History

In 1861, the land that became 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 left the United States, and Lee went away from the estate. The United States Government took over the land. They used it for burying Union soldiers and building forts for protection.

Fort Cass was built in August 1861 after a Union loss in a battle. It was one of the first forts along the Arlington Line. Fort Whipple was built in spring 1863 after another Union loss. It was named after General Amiel Weeks Whipple. In 1881, the area with Fort Whipple was renamed Fort Myer to honor Brigadier General Albert J. Myer. Fort Myer became famous for its Signal Corps work, cavalry shows, and special units like the United States Army Band and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.

Fort Myer was also where the first airplane flew at a military base in 1908 by Orville Wright. The National Weather Service started there in 1870, and the first radio station was set up nearby in 1913. During World War I, Fort Myer was used to train soldiers. In 2005, Fort Myer joined 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. It has many old buildings and an important place 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.