Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 2, 2007

1. Old Cape Henry Lighthouse Marker

Inscription.
First lighthouse authorized by the first United State Congress. Erected in 1791, it lighted the entrance into Chesapeake Bay until 1881.

Owned by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, as deeded in 1930 by the Congress of the United States.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1791.

Location. 36° 55.55′ N, 76° 0.485′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in Fort Story. It can be reached from the intersection of Sicily Road and Antic Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 583 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach VA 23459, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard.

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Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Landing (here, next to this marker); Cape Henry 1881: Retirement and Replacement (here, next to this marker); Aids to Navigation (a few steps from this marker); The Life of a Keeper (a few steps from this marker); First Public Works Project of the United States Government (a few steps from this marker); Design and Construction (a few steps from this marker); Through the Years (a few steps from this marker); The Need for a Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2025, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 16 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on June 3, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context • Can you help?