Sunrise, Cape Henry Lighthouses, Virginia Beach, VA (3)
**Cape Henry Lighthouse** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 66000910, date listed 1966-10-15
**Cape Henry (Second Tower) Light Station** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 02001439, date listed 2002-12-02
Atlantic Ave. at U.S. 60
Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach (Independent City)
The Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay served as a major transportation corridor for commercial traffic from the early 18th through 20th centuries. Cape Henry Lighthouse marks the south side of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and is considered one of the most important lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. The Lighthouse is the earliest cast-iron-cylinder light tower in the state of Virginia; at 163 feet, it is the tallest cast-iron-plate light tower in the United States. The world's first synchronized radio beacon and electric oscillator air fog signal was put into commission at Cape Henry Lighthouse in May of 1929.
The construction of the first Cape Henry tower (1792), a National Historic Landmark, was the first public works project completed by the new federal government. In 1872, cracks extending from the base to nearly the top of the tower on the north and south walls were first reported by inspectors, though only eight years earlier the tower was reported "in excellent order." The Lighthouse Board, fearing the structure would collapse, recommended a new and more substantial lighthouse be built of the first order since it was considered "one of the first lights of importance along the coast." It was also noted that the 30-year-old frame keeper's dwelling was in a "dilapidated condition," too small for the number of keepers stationed there, and too far from the tower to insure "proper attendance." An estimated cost for the new tower and quarters was $85,000 with a request to Congress for $50,000 to commence work. This request was renewed in 1873 and 1874. In 1875, the request was raised to $75,000 and renewed again in 1876. Congress finally appropriated this amount on June 20, 1878. In 1878, the Board requested an additional $25,000 which was renewed in 1879 and, finally, appropriated on June 16, 1880. A second request for still another $25,000 was appropriated on March 3, 1881, to complete the lighthouse station. Of these two additional appropriations, $48,063.52 was spent in 1882. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/134-0079_...
Sunrise, Cape Henry Lighthouses, Virginia Beach, VA (3)
**Cape Henry Lighthouse** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 66000910, date listed 1966-10-15
**Cape Henry (Second Tower) Light Station** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 02001439, date listed 2002-12-02
Atlantic Ave. at U.S. 60
Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach (Independent City)
The Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay served as a major transportation corridor for commercial traffic from the early 18th through 20th centuries. Cape Henry Lighthouse marks the south side of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and is considered one of the most important lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. The Lighthouse is the earliest cast-iron-cylinder light tower in the state of Virginia; at 163 feet, it is the tallest cast-iron-plate light tower in the United States. The world's first synchronized radio beacon and electric oscillator air fog signal was put into commission at Cape Henry Lighthouse in May of 1929.
The construction of the first Cape Henry tower (1792), a National Historic Landmark, was the first public works project completed by the new federal government. In 1872, cracks extending from the base to nearly the top of the tower on the north and south walls were first reported by inspectors, though only eight years earlier the tower was reported "in excellent order." The Lighthouse Board, fearing the structure would collapse, recommended a new and more substantial lighthouse be built of the first order since it was considered "one of the first lights of importance along the coast." It was also noted that the 30-year-old frame keeper's dwelling was in a "dilapidated condition," too small for the number of keepers stationed there, and too far from the tower to insure "proper attendance." An estimated cost for the new tower and quarters was $85,000 with a request to Congress for $50,000 to commence work. This request was renewed in 1873 and 1874. In 1875, the request was raised to $75,000 and renewed again in 1876. Congress finally appropriated this amount on June 20, 1878. In 1878, the Board requested an additional $25,000 which was renewed in 1879 and, finally, appropriated on June 16, 1880. A second request for still another $25,000 was appropriated on March 3, 1881, to complete the lighthouse station. Of these two additional appropriations, $48,063.52 was spent in 1882. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/134-0079_...