America’s Great Outdoors Tumblr updates

02/18/2014 10:39 AM EST

As part of our celebration of African American History Month, we will be posting photos from public lands dedicated to African American history and culture throughout the week.

The first comes from Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia. It’s history spans the American story through the 21st century: American Indian presence, Captain John Smith’s journeys, a safe haven for freedom seekers during the Civil War, and a bastion of defense for the Chesapeake Bay.

Photo by Robert Kelly