The ‘new’ Cape Henry Lighthouse — built in 1881 — will open Monday for National Lighthouse Day
For more than two centuries, sailors off the Virginia shores relied on pillars of light to guide them.
National Lighthouse Day honors these towers of light and their historical significance Monday. In Virginia Beach, the Cape Henry Lighthouses at Fort Story are marking the day with the one-day-only chance to climb the site’s “newer,” active lighthouse.
After all, there are two Cape Henry lighthouses.
The old lighthouse was the first federally funded public works project sanctioned by President George Washington and is made of the same limestone used to construct many of the oldest buildings in Washington. It is near the “first landing” site where English colonizers stopped before heading to Jamestown, and is regularly open to visitors.
The new Cape Henry Lighthouse, built in 1881, is still in service and is usually not open to the public. Visitors can climb the steps of both and take advantage of family activities on the grounds, learn about maritime life from museum staff and pose with Stewie the Seaturtle, the environmental mascot of the Navy. Food will be provided by The Flying Pig Food Truck and the Fort Story Girl Scouts will pouring lemonade.
The lighthouses are on an active military base, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. A shuttle carries visitors from the security gate to the lighthouses. Visit capehenrylighthouse.org to learn more about rules and regulations for visiting the base.
Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com
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If you go
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
Where: The Cape Henry Lighthouses, the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach. Park at Gate 8 for the shuttle; the gate is located off Atlantic Avenue just north of its intersection with 89th Street
Tickets: Climbing the newer Cape Henry Lighthouse and family activities are free. Climbing the old lighthouse starts at $8.
Details: preservationvirginia.org
