Lighthouses in Virginia

This past summer, we were in the Outer Banks, North Carolina and did a Lighthouse Tour Day. Basically, I took Don and we went from Currituck Lighthouse down to Ocracoke
and visited all the lighthouses in between. Our goal is to do this along the east coast in the next year. We are thinking that the lighthouses in Virginia should be our next trip.

Before you start any road trip, be sure to make sure you have a safe car. Whether you need to get your car tuned up or if you need a car, stop by the dealership and make sure your car is ready.

The Old Cape Henry lighthouse, built in 1792, is the oldest lighthouse in on the Chesapeake Bay and it is the 3rd oldest in the country. The lighthouse is a unpainted sandstone with a reinforced brick lining. It stands 90 feet tall in Fort Story. It has become the official symbol of Virginia Beach. The Old Cape Henry lighthouse is open to the public.

The New Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1881. It was built only 357 feet away from the original lighthouse. Standing at 164-foot, it is the tallest cast iron lighthouse in the US. It has been operated by the US Coast Guard since 1939.  The New Cape Henry Lighthouse is not open to the public but can be seen from the original.

The Assateague Lighthouse was built in 1833 and then it was rebuilt in 1866. Located on Assateague Island, it is part of the Chincoteaque National Wildlife Refuge. The lighthouse stands 145 feet tall. The lighthouse is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. While guests can view the lighthouse from the refuge, the lighthouse is only open a few times a year for inside tours.

The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse is located at Fort Monroe. Standing 54 feet tall, this lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay, being built in 1802. During the Civil War, it was used as a watch tower and was riddled with bullets by naval guns. This lighthouse has been maintained by the Army since 1973 and is not open to the public, but it can be viewed from the outside.

The New Point Comfort Lighthouse stands 63 feet tall and was built in 1804 as a octagonal sandstone structure. The lighthouse is not officially open to the public, but you can see it close up by boat.

Jones Point Lighthouse, located in Northern Virginia, is the last remaining river lighthouse. Built on the Potomac River, it is just south of Old Town Alexandria. Built in 1855, the lighthouse is not open to the public.