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Cape Henry Lighthouse, Virginia Beach, VA

Photo: United States Navy, Photographer's Mate 1st Class Ken Riley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffLocal Gem

Cape Henry Lighthouse

Climb the 1792 sandstone lighthouse at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on a guided tour inside Fort Story.

583 Atlantic Ave · Virginia Beach, VA

About Cape Henry Lighthouse

The old Cape Henry Lighthouse, completed in 1792 of Aquia sandstone, was the first federally funded public works project of the new United States. A guided visit has you climbing the tower, then taking a 45-minute walking tour of Cape Henry with an interpreter near the First Landing site. It stands on Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, so visitors 18 and older must submit a base security form five to 30 days ahead, and everyone over 16 needs a REAL ID.

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  • #historic site
  • #chesapeake bay
  • #guided tour

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What's around here?

The closest stops to Cape Henry Lighthouse, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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