Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Design and Construction
August 1790: The Commonwealth of Virginia transferred two acres of land at Cape Henry to the United States to construct the Cape Henry Lighthouse.
November 1790: National newspaper published a request for bids on the United States' first public works project. The design called for "A Light House of Stone, Faced with hewn brick, OCTAGON, having three Windows in the East & four in the West to take advantage of natural light." It was to be 13 feet below the water table. The lighthouse specifications include an interior stairway, fuel storage shed, and a two-story wooden keeper's house.
March 1791: John McComb, Jr. of New York began construction on the lighthouse at 28 years of age. His career as an architect began in 1783 assisting his father, John McComb, Sr.
November 17, 1792: The completed lighthouse was lit for the first time.
[Caption:]
After construction began, McComb found that the sand was softer than expected. He modified the foundation making it 20 feet deep instead of the prescribed 13 feet.
Erected by Preservation Virginia; City of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Location. 36° 55.545′ 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 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. 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: The Need for a Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); The Life of a Keeper (here, next to this marker); First Landing (a few steps from this marker); History of Cape Henry Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Old Cape Henry Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); First Public Works Project of the United States Government (a few steps from this marker); Cape Henry 1881: Retirement and Replacement (a few steps from this marker); Through the Years (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 116 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
