It is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the United States. Authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton, the Cape Henry Lighthouse silently guards the entry way into the Chesapeake Bay. Standing near the spot where, in 1607, Captain Newport raised a cross to offer thanks for their safe crossing of the Atlantic, the Lighthouse is opened to the public year round. The a
rchitectural integrity of the tower is representative of one of John McComb's best and most important constructions. The Lighthouse also symbolizes the first bold steps the nation's new government took to fulfill its obligations to its people. With the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse, the waters of the Chesapeake Bay became navigable and safe ensuring steady trade and commerce on the Virginia and Maryland coasts. Preservation Virginia acquired Cape Henry Lighthouse and 1.77 acres of ground in 1930.
