VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — After seven months of construction, restoration on the Cape Henry Lighthouse is complete.
City officials said they wanted to restore the lighthouse not only to protect it from the elements, but also to improve the visitor experience.
“We’ve created something that is really worthy of a national historic landmark for the public to come and visit and that is what the lighthouse is,” said Mark Reed, Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Virginia Beach.
Reed explained crews stabilized the base of the lighthouse by putting an interior retaining wall and also installed a granite seat wall, which allows visitors to rest before climbing to the top of the lighthouse.
The $1.1 million project, called the Cape Henry Lighthouse Dune and Base Stabilization Construction Project, added brick pavers to the pedestrian plaza, which is now surrounded by a metal railing. New steps were also added for access into the tower.
PHOTOS: Cape Henry Lighthouse restoration completed
Preservation Virginia Site Coordinator Jessica Collins said the historic landmark is iconic, making it impossible to put a value on the lighthouse.
“It’s been around since the founding of our country. It's very impressive that it’s still standing here today," she said.
The lighthouse is the oldest federally-funded project and guided sailors for centuries. Completed in 1792, the lighthouse was approved by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton. You might recognize it as the centerpiece of the Virginia Beach city seal.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the project's completion will be held on Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, there's still more work that can be done for the lighthouse, and you can help!
During the month of May, Deadline Brewing Project, Smartmouth Pilot House, and Back Bay's Farmhouse Brewing will donate one dollar per pint to the lighthouse for each purchase of their special "Historic Preservation Month" beers.
These beers will be sold three times throughout the month. The money will go to ongoing historic maintenance for the lighthouse.
More information can be found on the Facebook event page.