Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

We all had the day off yesterday, so we decided to head to Fort Story to see the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse.  It is near the spot where the settlers of Jamestown first landed.



This lighthouse was built in 1792.  In 1870, it began to crack and was replaced with the New Cape Henry Lighthouse which is located just over 350 feet away.  These two lighthouses are located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay.

Climbing the 191 stairs to get to the top of The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was well worth it. 

 

 

This is Rachel on the ladder at the top.  I kept telling Hannah to be careful on the ladder to which she replied, "Mom, I've climbed a ladder before."  This is where all those trips to the park paid off.  Ha!

 





 

I love the expression on Hannah's face.  This is when she turned and saw the view of the water.

 

 

The New Cape Henry Lighthouse in the background as seen from the top of the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse.

 





The view was gorgeous.  The New Cape Henry Lighthouse is an active lighthouse and operated by the Coast Guard.  Since it is active, it is not open to visitors, but we were able to get tons of photos.

After we climbed the stairs and spent some time enjoying the view at the top, we decided to spend some time exploring the beach. 

Aaron especially loved climbing on the rocks. 



Hannah did, too, but she didn't spend as much time on them.  Of course, the biggest kid got in on the action.

 



 Notice the moss on the side of those rocks?



Hannah did after she stepped on it and slipped into the water.  When will I ever learn I still need to carry a change of clothes for each child in the car?  On our way back to the car, we noticed the sign that notified visitors that climbing on the rocks is prohibited.  Oops!

There were tons of shells and other things washed up on the shoreline. 



We found skate cases, whelk egg cases, crab shells, jellyfish, small sharks and horseshoe crab shells.

Hannah was over-the-moon excited when she found this bird skull.



 

We are quite certain it is a seagull.

 

Aaron thought he had spotted a bald eagle, but it turned out to be a seagull.  PK spotted The Eagle.  It is the Coast Guard training ship which PK has sailed on.  It was built in Germany in 1936 and taken as a war prize by the US at the end of World War II.  Who knew we could wrap so much history and science into one trip to visit a local lighthouse?

 

 

 

The kids on the beach with the two lighthouses in the background

 

We all know I love the beach.  I think we could have spent hours exploring this particular beach and we will have to make a trip back the next time we all have a free day.