Name and Location

The Cape Henry Lighthouse is located at 561 Cape Henry Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23459, USA, situated in Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Construction and History

The original Cape Henry Lighthouse was constructed in 1792 to guide mariners into the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. However, due to its poor condition and frequent maintenance issues, it was eventually demolished in 1881. A new lighthouse was built on the same site in 1891, featuring an octagonal pyramidal tower with alternating black and white stripes.

Architecture and Materials

The current Cape Henry Lighthouse is a striking example of a late-19th-century lighthouse design. Its 49.9-foot-tall tower is adorned with a distinctive striped pattern, where the upper and lower halves of each face alternate between black and white. The structure's foundation is rooted in a concrete pier, while its upper section features a metal lantern room housing a first-order Fresnel lens.

Light and Navigation

The Cape Henry Lighthouse exhibits a characteristic Mo (morse code) light sequence: 1.0 + (2.0) + 1.0 + (2.0) + 7.0 + (7.0). The light is exhibited at night and has a range of approximately 17 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

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Notable Views and Landscape

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Anecdotes and Folklore

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Technical and Operational Details

The Cape Henry Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 under reference number 02001439. It also holds the distinction of being one of the most important lighthouses in American maritime history, serving as a vital aid to navigation for over two centuries.

Further Information

• * USCG (United States Coast Guard) Reference: 2-370
• * Seamark Information: Octagonal pyramidal tower, upper and lower half of each face alternately black and white.
• * Wikipedia: en:Cape Henry Lighthouse