Old Cape Henry Lighthouse
Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was constructed in 1791.  It was
 the first lighthouse in the US to be authorized, completed, and established by the first United States Congress. The location of the structure was chosen close to where the first English colonists landed in Virginia in 1607. The light cost a little over $15,000 to build. In 1857, the interior of the tower was lined with brick, and new cast iron stairs were added.

In 1862, the Confederate Army removed the 1st order Fresnel lens and destroyed the lantern. The light was repaired the following year by the advancing Union Army from Fort Monroe. The light was extinguished in 1881, due to the structure being unstable. The New Cape Henry Light was completed the same year, and took over the navigational function of the original. The old tower served as a daymark for many decades after.

New Cape Henry Lighthouse is located within Fort Story, in northern Virginia Beach. The Old Cape Henry Light is located just a few hundred yards away to the northwest. In 1872, it was determined that a more powerful beacon was required, so the New Cape Henry lighthouse was constructed to replace the old light from 1791. The 163 foot tall tower was built with prefabricated cast iron plates.

The interior of the tower is lined with brick, and is very similar in design to South Carolina's Hunting Island & Florida's Cape Canaveral Lights. The light was fitted with a lard oil-burning 1st order Fresnel lens, which was first lit in 1881. The still active beacon was electrified in 1923. The tower became the second lighthouse in the US to have a radio beacon in 1929. Sea Girt Light was the first.

Our Experience Inside Old Cape Henry

Our good friends, Rich and Bertha, went with us on vacation where we visited the "Old Cape Henry" lighthouse. As it was no longer in use, we were allowed to go up into it. But they didn't tell 
us that after walking round and round up all the stairs, that at the
top of them, there was a vertical metal ladder that took you up
into the area where the light was. And the opening at the top
of this ladder was extremely small, as you can see Rich above just
coming up into the top. So if you ever visit this lighthouse, you might want to keep this in mind. Of course, with all the stairs to climb, the lighthouse keeper must have kept very slim and trim.