Remove Ads

Cape Henry Lighthouse

583 Atlantic Ave, Virginia 23459 USA

101 Reviews
$
Budget
Closed Now
Opens Fri 10a
  • Independent
  • Not Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
  • Outdoor
    Seating
  • No Wifi
Add to Trip
Remove Ads

Learn more about this business on Yelp.

“silently guarding the Chesapeake Bay”

The Cape Henry Lighthouse silently guards the entry way into the Chesapeake Bay. Standing near the "First Landing" site of the Jamestown settlers where in 1607, Captain Newport raised a cross to offer thanks for their safe crossing of the Atlantic, the Lighthouse has stood sentinel since it was completed in 1792.Authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton, the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse was one of the first acts of the newly formed Federal government. The octagonal sandstone lighthouse was designed by New York architect John McComb and was in active use for nearly a century before being replaced by a new cast iron lighthouse still standing nearby. It is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the United States.Preservation Virginia acquired the Cape Henry Lighthouse in 1930 whe.n Congress deeded the lighthouse and 1.77 acres of land to the organization in order to preserve it and make it accessible to the public. Over the years it has restored the lighthouse and its surroundings including repairing the lantern after damage from Hurricane Barbara in 1953, repairing the damaged original Aquia sandstone, and restoring the surrounding dunes.Today visitors to the Cape Henry Lighthouse can climb to the top of the tower to enjoy spectacular views of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. They can also enjoy a quided walking tour of the area as well as a visit to our museum shop. 

Read More >
Photo of Robert G.

Reviewed by
Robert G.

My wife loves lighthouses and wants to see as many as possible on vacations, so naturally Cape Henry was on our list. It was a great experience and we had a great bus driver that provided great... Read more

Photo of Michael G.

Reviewed by
Michael G.

I've lived in this area most of my life and somehow I had never visited until recently! It's on base, so you need to have an ID with you. I bought our group's tickets on Groupon ahead of time and... Read more

Photo of Sally C.

Reviewed by
Sally C.

I love being a tourist in my own town. I have been wanting to go for awhile and on the last days of 2023 I finally went. Just know the lighthouse is on the base. Everyone in the car must have a... Read more

Cape Henry Lighthouse

583 Atlantic Ave
Virginia
23459 USA
Remove Ads

Hours

Closed Now
  • Sun - Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Problem with this listing? Let us know.

Has RV parking changed? Let us know.

Remove Ads
  • Check
    Parking
  • Unavailable
    Pets Allowed
  • Check
    Restrooms
  • Unavailable
    Wifi
  • Unavailable
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
  • Check
    Outdoor Seating
See More Details (13)

Parking, Dining

Remove Ads

Nearby Hotels

Virginia Beach, Virginia
FastBook

Click to discover a
great deal!

Norfolk, Virginia
FastBook
$$

Click to discover a
great deal!

Virginia Beach, Virginia
FastBook
$$

Click to discover a
great deal!

Warrenton, Virginia
Remove Ads

Related Trip Guides

  • Trip Guide
  • 1 Week

The top things to do on a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip

  • 85 Places
  • 36:11
  • 1,293 mi
  • Trip Guide

The top things to do on an I-95 road trip

  • 50 Places
  • 41:46
  • 1,983 mi
  • Trip Guide

The top things to do on an East Coast road trip

  • 32 Places
  • 48:54
  • 2,584 mi
Remove Ads
24089