Virginia Beach History

Virginia Beach is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the shores of Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. With its miles of beaches and year-round mild climate, Virginia Beach has become one of the top-rated vacation resorts on the Atlantic Coast. The beach itself, a strip as wide as a football field, runs along the length of the city's eastern shore and is flanked by a three-mile boardwalk lined with hotels, restaurants, and shops. Virginia Beach is currently listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world.

In the spring of 1607, Captain John Smith landed at Cape Henry, which is now the northern tip of Virginia Beach, and witnessed the white sandy beaches and pine forests beyond. Before sailing up the James River to establish Jamestown, he and his band of explorers planted a cross on the shore to give thanks for their safe voyage. This spot is commemorated at First Landing State Park, where a replica of the cross can be seen.

The Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. government, and was completed in 1792. A newer lighthouse was built in 1881, but the older structure has been opened to the public and now offers a panoramic view of the area. Virginia Beach is known for its pristine natural environments, boasting more than 18,000 acres of state parks and national wildlife refuges. A culmination of the city's environmental emphasis can be seen at Mount Trashmore Park, created on compacted layers of solid waste and clean soil. Other points of interest in Virginia Beach include the Virginia Marine Science Museum and the Association for Research and Enlightenment, established by psychic Edgar Cayce in 1931.