Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Life of a Keeper
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, lighthouse keeper was a coveted position. It helped to have strong political or family connections. George Washington and Alexander Hamilton appointed the first Cape Henry Lighthouse keepers. These men were veterans of the Revolutionary War with recommendations from prominent Virginians such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.
In the 18th century, the keepers lived on a salary of $400 per year. At Cape Henry, the sandy living conditions prevented the keeper and his family from growing their own produce so they received additional rations as compensation.
Daily Responsibilities
The lighthouse keeper kept a daily log book, similar to a ship captain's log. He would record the daily weather, shipwrecks and the amount of oil used in the lantern.
The lantern needed to be tended four times a night. It would be lit at dusk, trimmed twice over the course of the night, and extinguished at dawn to conserve oil.
Erected by Preservation Virginia; City of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Location. 36° 55.548′ N, 76° 0.492′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in Fort Story. It can be reached from the intersection of Sicily Road and Antick 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. 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
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Design and Construction (here, next to this marker); The Need for a Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); First Landing (a few steps from this marker); Old Cape Henry Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Cape Henry 1881: Retirement and Replacement (a few steps from this marker); History of Cape Henry Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); First Public Works Project of the United States Government (a few steps from this marker); Aids to Navigation (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 Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
