In 1607, the “first landing” of 104 English settlers was in Cape Henry, named after Prince Henry of England at the time. This had marked the beginning of the American Colony history. On September 5, 1781, The Battle of the Cape emerged between Cape Henry and their neighbors across the Chesapeake Bay: Cape Charles (named after Prince Henry’s brother). This battle between the Americans and British, fought for independence against the British and sealed their American victory during the Revolutionary War.
In 1792, the first American Lighthouse was created: Cape Henry Lighthouse. This was the first lighthouse authorized by the United States by George Washington and was the first Public Works project in the country. Built with the same Aquia sandstone as much of Washington, D.C, the lighthouse guided sea travelers to safety for almost 100 years.
Go to their website at https://preservationvirginia.org/historic-sites/cape-henry-lighthouse/ to learn more.
