Cape Henry Light

Cape Henry Lighthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Virginia Landmarks Register
In 2017
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Location	Virginia Beach, Virginia
Coordinates	36°55′32″N 76°0′30″W / 36.92556°N 76.00833°W / 36.92556; -76.00833
Built	Old Lighthouse, 1792; New lighthouse, 1881
Architect	Federal Government
MPS	Light Stations of the United States MPS
NRHP reference No.	66000910, 02001439
VLR No.	134-0007, 134-0079
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966, December 2, 2002[2]
Designated NHL	April 15, 1970[3]
Designated VLR	September 9, 1969, September 10, 2003[1]

The Cape Henry Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Virginia. It is near Virginia Beach, Virginia. For a long time, it has been important for the large amount of shipping entering the Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. The first building was the first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. government. It was built in 1792. The lighthouse was also the first federal construction project under the Constitution. It was expected to cost $15,200 to build. Another $2,500 was needed to finish the lighthouse. A second lighthouse was built in 1881 a short distance away. It was built because people were worried the first building was not stable.

1. ↑ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
2. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
3. ↑ "Cape Henry Lighthouse". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2008-06-26.