It was a birthday celebration fit for an entire Army base.

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As the United States Army spent Thursday celebrating its 237th birthday, Fort Belvoir celebrated a century in service. It was a centennial celebration and the beginning of a new era for the region's biggest military base.

Built along the Potomac River and completed in 1912, Fort Belvoir is not only prime real estate, but also a peninsula of change. The base, which was acquired by the Army for $33,000, has undergone at least five major transformations while serving as a training ground for soldiers and the home of the Army Corps of Engineers.

For Maj. Kenneth Davis, who grew up visiting his grandfather at the base, the morphing into a microcosm of innovation has been something he's been able to see first hand.

"Back then, it was horses and dirt roads," Davis said. "Now, it's one of the most technologically advanced bases we have."

After the BRAC realignment plan was completed, Fort Belvoir became a hub to 145 different intelligence and logistic centers. 45,000 people now operate out of the base every day.

However, through the 100 years of change, what has stayed constant are the old landmarks, like a wooden chapel that was built before World War II.

With 100 years of history behind it, Fort Belvoir continues to transform. The latest change - a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital that helps wounded warriors heal.