The Cape Henry Lighthouses are a pair of lighthouses at Cape Henry, the landform marking the southern entrance to Chesapeake Bay in the U.S. state of Virginia. The location has long been important for the large amount of ocean-going shipping traffic for the harbors, its rivers, and shipping headed to ports on the bay. The original lighthouse was the first authorized by the U.S. government, dating from 1792. It was also the first federal construction project under the Constitution, for an original contract amount of $15,200 (an additional $2,500 was required to finish the lighthouse). A second lighthouse was built and completed in 1881 a short distance away after concern arose about the stability of the first. Both towers of the light station were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
The first work of the new U.S. Federal government, the first Cape Henry lighthouse was built of Aquia and Rappahannock sandstone by John McComb Jr. and was completed in October, 1792. McComb was one of the architects involved in the construction of New York City Hall and would go on to design other lighthouses. The lighthouse's design was based on the 1767 Cape Henlopen Light.[4] The lighthouse was damaged by Confederate forces during the American Civil War, but was repaired by Union forces in 1863, who depended on the light for navigation.[5] In the 1870s, concerns about the condition and safety of the old Lighthouse at Cape Henry following a lightning strike that caused large cracks in the structure led to the construction of a new, taller, lighthouse at Cape Henry (pictured to the right) in 1881, which stands 350 feet to the northeast of the original tower.[6] The old tower remained standing, used as a daymark and as a basis for triangulation. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1983 and remains in use today.[7][8]
Descriptionedit
In 1798, Benjamin Latrobe visited Cape Henry Lighthouse and described it as "an octangular truncated pyramid of eight sides, rising 90 feet to the light..."[9] The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is 26 feet in diameter at its base, and 16 feet at its top.[8] It was built with Aquia Creek sandstone from the same source as the White House.[10]
The new lighthouse, 157 feet (48 m) tall, was built of cast iron and wrought iron, with a more powerful first-order Fresnel lens.[4] It is the only lighthouse on the Virginia coast that is still equipped with a first-order Fresnel lens.
Preservationedit
The older lighthouse was acquired in 1930 by Preservation Virginia (formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities). A brick lining and an iron stairway have been added to the interior. The lighthouse is open to the public and a fine view can be enjoyed from its observation platform. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 29, 1964. In 2002 the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the lighthouse a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.[5][8]
^. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
^ abWilson, Richard Guy, ed. (2002). The Buildings of Virginia:Tidewater and Piedmont. Oxford University Press. p. 455. ISBN0-19-515206-9.
^ abc. Preservation Virginia. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
^. Archived from the original on May 7, 2006. Retrieved May 13, 2006.
^Catherine E. Dean, "The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse", 2006, APVA Preservation Virginia, ISBN1-891468-48-0
^ abcSheely, Horace J. (1963). "Old Cape Henry Lighthouse National Historic Landmark Study Designated January 29, 1964". Maritime Landmarks: Light Stations. National Park Service. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
^Lighthouse Friends Old Cape Henry description May 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^Preserving Virginia 1889-1989: Centennial Pictorial. Virginia: The Art Band. 1989. p. 10.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cape Henry lighthouses.
Cape Henry Lighthouse webpage on the Preservation Virginia website
Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Project - Old Cape Henry Light
Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Project - New Cape Henry Light
January 01, 1970
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The Cape Henry Lighthouses are a pair of lighthouses at Cape Henry the landform marking the southern entrance to Chesapeake Bay in the U S state of Virginia The location has long been important for the large amount of ocean going shipping traffic for the harbors its rivers and shipping headed to ports on the bay The original lighthouse was the first authorized by the U S government dating from 1792 It was also the first federal construction project under the Constitution for an original contract amount of 15 200 an additional 2 500 was required to finish the lighthouse A second lighthouse was built and completed in 1881 a short distance away after concern arose about the stability of the first Both towers of the light station were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 Cape Henry LighthouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkVirginia Landmarks RegisterThe new and old lighthouses at Cape HenryShow map of VirginiaShow map of the United StatesLocationVirginia Beach VirginiaCoordinates36 55 32 N 76 0 30 W 36 92556 N 76 00833 W 36 92556 76 00833BuiltOld Lighthouse 1792 New lighthouse 1881ArchitectFederal GovernmentMPSLight Stations of the United States MPSNRHP reference No 66000910 02001439VLR No 134 0007 134 0079Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 15 1966 December 2 2002 2 Designated NHLApril 15 1970 3 Designated VLRSeptember 9 1969 September 10 2003 1 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Preservation 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe first work of the new U S Federal government the first Cape Henry lighthouse was built of Aquia and Rappahannock sandstone by John McComb Jr and was completed in October 1792 McComb was one of the architects involved in the construction of New York City Hall and would go on to design other lighthouses The lighthouse s design was based on the 1767 Cape Henlopen Light 4 The lighthouse was damaged by Confederate forces during the American Civil War but was repaired by Union forces in 1863 who depended on the light for navigation 5 In the 1870s concerns about the condition and safety of the old Lighthouse at Cape Henry following a lightning strike that caused large cracks in the structure led to the construction of a new taller lighthouse at Cape Henry pictured to the right in 1881 which stands 350 feet to the northeast of the original tower 6 The old tower remained standing used as a daymark and as a basis for triangulation The lighthouse was fully automated in 1983 and remains in use today 7 8 Description editIn 1798 Benjamin Latrobe visited Cape Henry Lighthouse and described it as an octangular truncated pyramid of eight sides rising 90 feet to the light 9 The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is 26 feet in diameter at its base and 16 feet at its top 8 It was built with Aquia Creek sandstone from the same source as the White House 10 The new lighthouse 157 feet 48 m tall was built of cast iron and wrought iron with a more powerful first order Fresnel lens 4 It is the only lighthouse on the Virginia coast that is still equipped with a first order Fresnel lens Preservation editThe older lighthouse was acquired in 1930 by Preservation Virginia formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities A brick lining and an iron stairway have been added to the interior The lighthouse is open to the public and a fine view can be enjoyed from its observation platform It was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 29 1964 In 2002 the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the lighthouse a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark 5 8 The lighthouses are located in the city of Virginia Beach within the boundaries of Joint Expeditionary Base East a Navy base The Cape Henry Memorial is adjacent to the lighthouses 5 nbsp First tower in 1995 NPS nbsp Second tower modern photo nbsp Second tower U S Coast Guard Archive nbsp The first Cape Henry Lighthouse erected 1792 in 2017 nbsp The second Cape Henry Lighthouse erected 1881 in 2017 nbsp Both Lighthouses in 2017See also editFirst Landing State Park Boston Light for more on lighthouse firsts List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia National Register of Historic Places listings in Virginia Beach VirginiaReferences edit Virginia Landmarks Register Virginia Department of Historic Resources Archived from the original on September 21 2013 Retrieved March 19 2013 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 Cape Henry Lighthouse National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Archived from the original on December 26 2007 Retrieved June 26 2008 a b Wilson Richard Guy ed 2002 The Buildings of Virginia Tidewater and Piedmont Oxford University Press p 455 ISBN 0 19 515206 9 a b c Cape Henry Lighthouse Preservation Virginia Archived from the original on September 27 2011 Retrieved October 21 2011 Old Cape Henry Lighthouse Virginia at Lighthousefriends com Archived from the original on May 7 2006 Retrieved May 13 2006 Catherine E Dean The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse 2006 APVA Preservation Virginia ISBN 1 891468 48 0 a b c Sheely Horace J 1963 Old Cape Henry Lighthouse National Historic Landmark Study Designated January 29 1964 Maritime Landmarks Light Stations National Park Service Retrieved October 21 2011 Lighthouse Friends Old Cape Henry description Archived May 7 2006 at the Wayback Machine Preserving Virginia 1889 1989 Centennial Pictorial Virginia The Art Band 1989 p 10 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cape Henry lighthouses Lighthousefriends Cape Henry Lighthouse Cape Henry Lighthouse webpage on the Preservation Virginia website Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Project Old Cape Henry Light Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Project New Cape Henry Light Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cape Henry Lighthouses amp oldid 1191160307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
