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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

583 Atlantic Ave · Virginia Beach, VA

Why you should go…

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.

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

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

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.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    First Landing State Park

    Under $25

    Hike cypress swamp and maritime forest trails, then hit 1.5 miles of Chesapeake Bay beach where English colonists landed in 1607.

    1.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Virginia Beach Boardwalk

    Free

    Stroll or bike a three-mile oceanfront promenade lined with hotels, restaurants and the King Neptune statue.

    4.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    Free

    Chrysler Museum of Art

    Free

    A free art museum spanning 5,000 years, with one of the largest glass collections in America and live glassmaking demos.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Fort Monroe

    Free

    Walk the moat and ramparts of a six-sided stone fort at Old Point Comfort, then visit the Casemate Museum and Chesapeake Bay beaches.

    17 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Yorktown Battlefield

    Under $25

    Tour the earthworks, Moore House and Victory Monument where the 1781 siege ended the Revolutionary War's fighting.

    34 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Colonial Williamsburg

    $25–$50

    Walk an 18th-century capital where costumed interpreters work trades and restored buildings line Duke of Gloucester Street.

    45 mi awayMore like this