Fort Howell is a former fort built in 186 by the Union troops’ 32nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment. It was created to protect Mitchelville, which was a town of freed slaves just east of the location from attacks and other Confederate activities. It was named after Brigadier General Joshua B. Howell, who was a Union Army officer who served in the Southeast Virginia and Carolinas locales during the Civil War.

Fort Howell contained three acres of land during its existence. Most of the area formerly belonged to the plantation of William Pope.
Currently, the Fort Howell site is contained in a heritage site that is open to the public. This current tourist destination contains the fort where its earthworks, ramparts, and ditches can still be seen by visitors.