Cape Henry Memorial

Cape Henry Memorial is a granite cross positioned at the Virginia Beach shoreline marking where English colonists first made landfall in the early 17th century. The structure stands at the precise location where the initial European settlement of the continent began.

The site marks the arrival of English colonists in April 1607 before they sailed onward to establish the permanent settlement at Jamestown. Important naval battles also took place near this coastline later, playing a key role in the nation's independence.

The site carries meaning as a marker of initial European settlement, and visitors experience it as a place connecting them to the nation's founding moments. The location draws those interested in understanding where colonial roots began.

The memorial sits within a military installation, so visitor access is limited and may involve security screening. A nearby lighthouse provides information and offers stamps for those collecting national park documents.

The waters here witnessed a major naval engagement in 1781 when French fleet forces blocked British reinforcements, securing independence for the emerging nation. This battle remains less celebrated than others in the independence struggle, yet proved equally decisive.