One of my favorite activities in the Hampton Roads area is going to the Cape Henry Lighthouse.
It’s located on an active military base, so there are some things to take into consideration when planning your visit, but it’s worth the extra effort to see this historical site.
The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was the 4th lighthouse built in the US and the 1st federal construction project to be commissioned by the newly formed US Government in 1792. The New Cape Henry Lighthouse replaced the old in 1882 and is made of cast iron.
When you arrive at Fort Story you’ll approach the gate when signaled by the attendant. They’ll ask your purpose and you need to provide IDs for EVERY person 16+ in the vehicle. You’ll be signaled to a parking area to your left, then you’ll get checked with a metal detector for security and wait for the shuttle that’ll take you the mile down to the Cape Henry Lighthouse.
You’re only able to go in certain areas around the lighthouses and the First Landing Area. There are rules about what you can and can’t photograph as well which are all explained in detail. Your ID is kept at security until you complete your tour.
This activity is NOT pet-friendly (service dogs are different). If you do bring a pet, someone will have to stay back with the pet and keep in mind that Virginia can get very hot. You cannot leave your dog in the car – no matter the weather – you will get in trouble with the military personnel at security.
Once you arrive at the Cape Henry Lighthouse, you go into the shop and purchase your tickets. They’re usually $10 per person for adults, but you can often find Groupons and there are other discounts available for Military, AAA, Seniors and more. One other note: There are a lot of stairs. It’s not an especially accessible site. You can see some of the areas, but you can’t get up to the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse if you can’t take stairs.
There’s a lot of great information and many times there are volunteers available to answer questions and discuss more information about the lighthouses. You can get great views from the base of the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse and even better ones from the top.
Once you finish your tour, walk past the New Cape Henry Lighthouse (although “new” is a bit of a stretch since it’s from the 1880s) to the site of the First Landing and take the ramp to the beach overlook. The site of the First Landing is where the first 100 English settlers landed before heading up the James River to settle Jamestown in 1607. The overlook shows where the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean meet and where the site of the Battle of the Capes took place.
There’s a convenience store for snacks and water or to use the restroom. You can bring a picnic to eat at designated picnic tables. You cannot access the beach and if you’re caught there you can be fined.
The shuttle arrives every 15 minutes to take you back to the parking lot where you collect your ID and head off base. The whole trip can take 1-2 hours depending on how much time you take at the various locations, if you only visit the base of the lighthouses, etc. It’s really reasonably priced and gives you a great bit of history, not only of the region but the beginning of our country.
Address
Cape Henry Lighthouse, 583 Atlantic Avenue, Fort Story, Virginia 23459
[…] times. It’s probably my favorite thing to do in Hampton Roads (closely followed by the Cape Henry Lighthouse). That means it was a must-visit on my hometown takeover and became a feature one week of The […]