Virginia Lighthouses

Atlantic Coast ... from north to south

Assateague Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, just east of the town of Chincoteague.  It is quite easy to get to, although it takes a while since it is on an island and quite remote.  The good news is that you can drive to the island.  In fact, this island is the setting for the novel "Misty of Chincoteague", a story of the wild horses of that area.

Located on Virginia's eastern shore, take Route 13.  About 5 miles south of the Maryland state line, head east on Route 175,  When you reach the island, drive straight through the first intersection and you will be on Maddox Boulevard.  Follow it to the wildlife refuge on Assateague Island.  There is a nominal charge ... $5 when we were there in 2010.  The parking area is a short distance past the toll booth.  It is a short walk to the light.  It is open to the public but we were there late on a Saturday and it was closed.

There are some very interesting displays at this site.  This lighthouse was the first commissioned by an act of Congress when our government was first created.  Also, due to storms, tides and sea currents, the outline of the island has changed over the years.  Apparently Assateague Island is a big sand dune.  Its shape and location have changed considerably over the past hundred years or so and the graphics in these displays track those shapes.

As is the case with many lighthouses, they are located at the scenes of shipwrecks.  The most famous to occur at this location happened in 1891.  Then President Benjamin Harrison's official yacht, the Despatch, wrecked there.  The entire crew was saved by the staff of a lifesaving station in the area.

Cape Charles Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located on the west side of Smith Island, which is just north of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.  It is only accessible by boat, but you can see it as your cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.  We took a few of our pictures from there.  You can also stop at the northbound rest area and take a half mile or so walk to the marsh area where you can see it.  There was no charge for that.

New Cape Henry Lighthouse

Both the New Cape Henry and Old Cape Henry lighthouses are on the grounds of Fort Story, an army and navy facility.  Go into Virginia Beach and head north on Atlantic Avenue.  This turns into Route 60.  The road will bend 90^o to the west just before the fort but you should proceed north onto the fort grounds.  You will be stopped by a military contingency who will ask for identification.  They will also search your vehicle thoroughly.  They do all of this very cordially and quite quickly.  Normally, it isn't a good idea to mess around with a group like this.  The officer in charge, however, looked a lot like President Obama and I mentioned that.  Apparently I wasn't the first to make this comment and it lightened the mood!

The New Cape Henry Lighthouse is functional but is not open to the public.  You can get very close to it however, and good pictures are possible.  One of these photos was taken from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and another from atop the Old Cape Henry Light.

Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

As indicated above in the description of the New Cape Henry Lighthouse, both the New Cape Henry and Old Cape Henry lighthouses are on the grounds of Fort Story, a US Army and Navy facility. 

The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is no longer used.  It is now registered as a national historic landmark.  There is a gift shop there and you can climb the tower.  The charge when we were there in 2010 was $4 per person but nobody told the military contingency out front.  They told us it would be $3!

Several of these photos were taken from atop this light.

Smith Point Lighthouse

This lighthouse is out there somewhere in the Atlantic and only viewable by boat.  We have not yet been there.

Wolf Trap Lighthouse

This lighthouse is out there somewhere in the Atlantic and only viewable by boat.  We have not yet been there.

Inland lighthouses ... from north to south

Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse

This lighthouse is in the bay south of Hampton.  We have not yet been there.

Thimble Shoal Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Fort Monroe near Hampton.  We have not yet been there.

New Point Comfort Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Fort Monroe near Hampton.  We have not yet been there.

Old Point Comfort Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Fort Monroe near Hampton.  We have not yet been there.

Jones Point Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Alexandria.  It is on a river, considerably inland.  We have not yet been there.