The Cape Henry Lighthouse, completed in 1792, was the first federal construction project authorized by the United States Congress under the new Constitution — a fact that gives this octagonal sandstone tower a significance out of proportion to its modest size. It marks the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay at the point where the Atlantic converges with the bay, one of the most strategically important navigational positions on the East Coast. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1881 when the adjacent Cape Henry II lighthouse, a taller cast-iron structure, took over active duty. Both lighthouses stand today, and on clear days the view from the top of the old lighthouse encompasses the bay entrance, the resort strip, and the Atlantic horizon.
The lighthouses sit within Fort Story, an active US Army installation, which requires a small complication: civilian visitors need to present a valid photo ID at the gate, and the security check can add time to a visit. American citizens and permanent residents typically have no difficulty; foreign nationals should check current access policies before going. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities manages the old lighthouse and charges a modest admission fee.
The location at the bay entrance means the area around the lighthouses is excellent for watching ship traffic — container vessels, naval ships, and tankers pass through the channel regularly. The beach near the fort is also historically important as the site of the First Landing of 1607, though First Landing State Park to the west commemorates that event more fully. The lighthouses are about five miles north of the main boardwalk area.