Cape Henry Memorial

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Cape Henry Memorial

Virginia attraction guide

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VIRGINIA ATTRACTION

Cape Henry Memorial

A small National Park Service memorial in Virginia Beach marking the approximate site of the English colonists’ first landing in Virginia in 1607, with views toward the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay entrance.

Location
Virginia Beach, within Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story

Managed by
National Park Service

Known for
The approximate 1607 landing site and the Battle of the Capes

Access
Military-base access rules apply; confirm current arrangements before going

Cape Henry Memorial is a compact outdoor historic site at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. A granite cross marks the approximate place where English colonists came ashore in April 1607, before traveling on to establish Jamestown. The site is part of Colonial National Historical Park and sits on an active military installation.

The memorial is more than a single marker: visitors can see a statue of French admiral Comte de Grasse, a monument to the 1781 Battle of the Capes and a walkway leading to a view over the dunes, Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay entrance. Access arrangements are an essential part of planning: the memorial is within Fort Story, and National Park Service visitor pages describe restrictions and shuttle procedures that may change. Check the park’s latest directions and hours before setting out.

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Why visit Cape Henry Memorial?

Cape Henry is a meaningful stop for visitors tracing Virginia’s early colonial history or the closing years of the American Revolution. Its significance comes from two moments tied to the bay’s entrance: the 1607 landing associated with the founding of Jamestown, and the 1781 naval battle in which French and British fleets fought nearby. The French victory helped prevent British reinforcements from reaching Yorktown.

The setting is part of the experience. The memorial occupies a small area among coastal dunes, with a short walkway to an ocean-and-bay overlook. It is an outdoor, largely self-guided visit rather than a staffed museum; the National Park Service says there are no facilities or special services at the site.

Start here

Begin at the granite First Landing Memorial Cross, which commemorates the wooden cross the English colonists are said to have planted after coming ashore. Read the nearby interpretive panels for context, then look for the Battle of the Capes monument and de Grasse statue. Finish with the walkway to the dune-top viewpoint, where the memorial’s location at the entrance to the bay becomes clear.

What to see and do

First Landing Memorial Cross

A granite cross erected in 1935 commemorates the wooden cross associated with the colonists’ 1607 landing. The memorial marks the approximate landing site, not a precisely established point on the modern shoreline.

Battle of the Capes memorial

See the granite monument honoring the 1781 naval encounter between French and British fleets near the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.

Admiral de Grasse statue

A statue honors the French admiral whose fleet’s victory in the Battle of the Capes helped shape the outcome at Yorktown.

Interpretive panels

Three wayside panels introduce Cape Henry’s role in the 1607 landing and the later naval battle.

Dune-top overlook

Follow the walkway to look out toward the Atlantic Ocean and the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. Stay on established paths and take care around the dunes.

History and significance

In April 1607, English colonists entered Chesapeake Bay and landed at Cape Henry. The National Park Service identifies the memorial as marking the approximate site of that first landing in Virginia. The colonists later traveled up the James River and established Jamestown; Cape Henry is therefore an important opening point in the story told across Colonial National Historical Park.

The memorial also interprets the Battle of the Capes, fought offshore in 1781 between French and British fleets. The French victory helped prevent British naval relief from reaching General Cornwallis at Yorktown, contributing to the circumstances that led to his surrender.

The granite cross was erected in 1935 by the Daughters of the American Colonists. The memorial landscape was later moved inland as the shoreline advanced; a National Park Service cultural-landscape inventory documents the relocation in 1981.

Planning a visit

Cape Henry Memorial is within Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story, so do not assume that ordinary public-road access applies. National Park Service pages describe checkpoint procedures, restrictions on driving onto the base, and shuttle access from the gate area; another page notes that the site may close during periods of heightened security. The posted instructions may change or differ, so review the NPS directions and hours immediately before visiting and contact the listed base public affairs office if access is unclear.

The memorial is an unattended outdoor site without visitor facilities or special services. Plan for a short, self-guided stop, wear footwear suited to outdoor paths, and bring any water or other necessities you need. The NPS lists no entrance fee, but base access requirements still apply.

Nearby attractions

First Landing State Park
A Virginia state park on the coast near Cape Henry, with trails and access to Chesapeake Bay landscapes.

Virginia Beach
The nearby coastal city offers beaches, dining and other visitor services.

Norfolk
A nearby waterfront city with museums, maritime history and cultural attractions.

Colonial National Historical Park
Explore the park’s connected historic places, including Cape Henry, Jamestown and Yorktown.

Yorktown Battlefield
Visit the Revolutionary War battlefield associated with the campaign that followed the 1781 naval victory.

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References

External links

• Cape Henry Memorial — National Park Service
• Directions and access information — National Park Service
• Operating hours and seasonal information — National Park Service