Cape Henry Memorial & First Landing Cross
Cape Henry Memorial & First Landing Cross is a attraction in North End, Virginia Beach, best for colonial-history pilgrims, pairing with a Cape Henry Lighthouse visit.
This quarter-acre National Park Service site — part of Colonial National Historical Park — marks where the Jamestown colonists first came ashore in April 1607 and raised a wooden cross before sailing on up the James River. Today a granite memorial cross, erected in 1935 by the Daughters of the American Colonists, stands in its place, alongside a statue of Admiral Comte de Grasse and a granite memorial to the 1781 Battle of the Capes, the French naval victory fought within sight of this shore that sealed Cornwallis's fate at Yorktown. A walkway leads to the top of the dunes for a view over the meeting of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic. IMPORTANT: like the neighboring Cape Henry Lighthouse, the memorial sits inside Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, an active military base — the same base access rules apply (REAL ID, security check at Gate 8, rules that change with security posture), so verify current civilian access before visiting.
Amenities
- First Landing Cross
- Battle of the Capes memorial
- Dune-top overlook walkway
Know Before You Go
- Best for: colonial-history pilgrims, pairing with a Cape Henry Lighthouse visit
- Parking: Parking near the lighthouse once through Fort Story base security.
- Accessibility: Small outdoor site; the dune overlook is reached by a walkway. Contact Colonial National Historical Park (757-898-2410) for current access details.
- Dogs: not allowed — Military base access rules govern the site; check current policy before bringing a pet.
- Location: Quarter-acre National Park Service site inside Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, near Cape Henry Lighthouse, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
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September 25, 2026 – September 27, 2026 · annual
Virginia Beach's signature festival closes out September with its 52nd Boardwalk Weekend, spreading across the Oceanfront between 1st and 35th Streets. The headline draw is Neptune's International Sandsculpting Championship — 22 large-scale works by sculptors from around the world — alongside an art and craft show with more than 200 artisans, twenty-plus musical acts across festival stages, the Grand Parade, Neptune's 8K, and a surfing competition at the jetty. Most of it is free to attend, and it reliably fills the resort area for one last big weekend of the season.
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October 9, 2026 – October 11, 2026 · annual
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October 30, 2026 – October 31, 2026 · annual
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