Cape Henry Lighthouse

In 1789 the first U.S. Congress, located at the time in New York City, approved the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse, which became the first federal building authorized by the United States under the Constitution.  Built from sandstone mined from the same quarry that provided the stone for Mount Vernon, the Capitol, and the White House, the lighthouse guided mariners to the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay for nearly a century.  It was replaced by the “new” Cape Henry Lighthouse in 1881, which is still in use today.

Both lighthouses are located on Fort Story in Virginia Beach.  Ft. Story is an active Army base home to several Army and Navy commands.  No military ID?  No problem.  Your driver’s license (and a thorough vehicle inspection) is all you need to gain access to the base and the lighthouse visitor center.  The visitor center staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and will happily time your climb to the top of the old lighthouse, where you are rewarded with extraordinary views of the surrounding area, including Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the oceanfront hotels and condos of Virginia Beach.