Cape Henry Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape Henry Memorial |
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Memorial cross
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 Cape Henry Memorial
Location in Virginia
Cape Henry Memorial
Location in the United States
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| Location | Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA |
| Nearest city | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Area | 0.25 acres (0.10 ha) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Cape Henry Memorial |
The Cape Henry Memorial is a special place in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It remembers the very first time English colonists landed at Cape Henry. This happened on April 26, 1607. These colonists were on their way to start the Jamestown settlement, which was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
When they landed, they explored the area. They gave the cape its name and put up a cross. After this, they continued their journey up the James River. A stone cross stands at the memorial today. It was placed there in 1935 by a group called the Daughters of the American Colonists. This group helps preserve the history of early American settlers. The memorial marks this "First Landing," which was the start of what would become the United States and Canada.
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A Place of Important Battles
The Cape Henry Memorial also looks out over the spot where a very important naval battle happened. This was the Battle of the Virginia Capes. In this battle, the French navy stopped the British from sending more soldiers to help General Cornwallis. This French victory was a big reason why the American and French forces won the Battle of Yorktown. The victory at Yorktown was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War.
Honoring Heroes
At the memorial, you can see a statue of Admiral Comte de Grasse. He was the leader of the French navy during the Battle of the Virginia Capes. There is also a granite memorial that honors all the brave people who fought in that important battle.
Even though it's not specifically remembered at the park, another smaller naval battle also took place here. This was the Battle of Cape Henry in 1781. In this fight, British and French ships battled each other.
Visiting the Memorial
The Cape Henry Memorial is located inside Joint Expeditionary Base East. This is a military base. However, the memorial is a separate part of the Colonial National Historical Park. If you collect national park passport stamps, you can get one for the Cape Henry Memorial. You can find it at the nearby Old Cape Henry Light, which is a historic lighthouse.
More Information
- Official NPS website: Cape Henry Memorial
