Cape Henry Lighthouses

{{short description|Lighthouses in Virginia, United States}}

{{short description|Lighthouses in Virginia, United States}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

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..."<ref>[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=448 Lighthouse Friends Old Cape Henry description] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507232426/http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=448 |date=May 7, 2006 }}</ref> The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is 26 feet in diameter at its base, and 16 feet at its top.<ref name=nhlstudy1>{{cite web|last=Sheely|first=Horace J.|title=Old Cape Henry Lighthouse National Historic Landmark Study Designated January 29, 1964|url=https://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhl/capehenr.htm|work=Maritime Landmarks: Light Stations|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=21 October 2011|year=1963}}</ref> It was built with [[Aquia Creek sandstone]] from [[Public Quarry at Government Island|the same source]] as the [[White House]].<ref name=Cent>{{cite book|title=Preserving Virginia 1889-1989: Centennial Pictorial|year=1989|publisher=The Art Band|location=Virginia|pages=10}}</ref>

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..."<ref>[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=448 Lighthouse Friends Old Cape Henry description] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507232426/http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=448 |date=May 7, 2006 }}</ref> The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is 26 feet in diameter at its base, and 16 feet at its top.<ref name=nhlstudy1>{{cite web|last=Sheely|first=Horace J.|title=Old Cape Henry Lighthouse National Historic Landmark Study Designated January 29, 1964|url=https://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhl/capehenr.htm|work=Maritime Landmarks: Light Stations|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=21 October 2011|year=1963}}</ref> It was built with [[Aquia Creek sandstone]] from [[Public Quarry at Government Island|the same source]] as the [[White House]].<ref name=Cent>{{cite book|title=Preserving Virginia 1889-1989: Centennial Pictorial|year=1989|publisher=The Art Band|location=Virginia|pages=10}}</ref>

The new lighthouse, {{convert|157|ft|m}} tall, was built of [[cast iron]] and [[wrought iron]], with a more powerful first-order [[Fresnel lens]].<ref name=bova1/> It is the only lighthouse on the Virginia coast that is still equipped with a first-order Fresnel lens.

The new lighthouse, {{convert|157|ft|m}} tall, was built of [[cast iron]] and [[wrought iron]], with a more powerful first-order [[Fresnel lens]].<ref name=bova1/> It is the only lighthouse on the Virginia coast that is still equipped with a first-order Fresnel lens.

==Preservation==

==Preservation==